Up-to-date information

IPMet met information include : current observations at the local station, weather forecast over Sao Paulo state, NOAA/NESDIS satellite picture, current radar images and surface/upper air (altitude) model analyses and 3-day forecast.

CPTEC meteogram gives access to meteograms in Brazil. Lençois Paulista (SP) is the closest from Bauru, about 30 km South-East.

MIR trajectories : Real time location from GPS data transmitted by ARGOS and 10-day predictions calculated by the Danish Meteorological Institute from ECMWF forecasts (B. Knudsen).

MIMOSA PV fields : MIMOSA high resolution advection model of potential vorticity (PV) allows to determine the origin of air masses. The basic assumption is that PV and tracer mixing ratio are very well correlated on an isentropic surface. The PV field is advected using ECMWF winds interpolated on the given isentropic surface. A relaxation towards the ECMWF PV field with a 10-day time constant is applied to the MIMOSA advected PV in order to follow the diabatic evolution of air masses. PV fields are computed at 3 levels : 350K in the troposphere, 380K at the tropopause and 475K in the stratosphere (A. Hauchecorne).

IPMet met information
Local station	Weather forecast	NOAA/NESDIS	Current radar picture	Model predictions
Other information
CPTEC meteogram	MIR trajectories	MIMOSA PV fields
News from the field, pictures : the campaign and MIR recovery
March 24^th : MIR ENVISAT2 payloads have been recovered on March 21^st (see pictures). Modules have been first taken to an airport nearby, and are being sent to France through Sydney.
March 18^th : MIR ENVISAT2 recovery has been decided today by CNES. Payloads (including SAOZ/H2O) landed in a small mountains area close to Lake Proserpine South of the city of Townsville (Australian Great Barrier Reef).
March 4^th : The Bauru 2003 ENVISAT pre-HIBISCUS campaign is now over, which results could be summarized as follows : Three excellent short duration flights for SAOZ, SAOZ/H2O, SAOZ/BrO, DIRAC, DESCARTES, O3/H2O and the MICRO-LIDAR, including the attempt of a 3 SF heavy balloon flight for carrying in situ measurements in the TTL which could be of great use for simultaneous measurements with Geophysika next year; a series of O3 and H2O soundings by UCAM; Frustrating MIR flights after the failure at launch of two of them and the limited duration of the two others, ENVISAT2 carrying SAOZ/H2O and the radiometer (9 days, ENVISAT2 map ) and MIR 46 carrying SAOZ (8 days, MIR46 map ). However and although less abundant than anticipated, the data gathered together should allow to fulfill our duties regarding the validation of ENVISAT, the first priority of the campaign, as well as starting a variety of scientific investigations related to transport and chemistry at the tropics and preparing HIBISCUS as well. A post-campaign workshop will be organized later in Spring.
March 4^th : The flight of the second MIR 46 carrying SAOZ was terminated yesterday evening over a Hurricane named ERICA over the Coral Sea off the North West coast of Australia. This Hurricane is the same which dumped the first MIR ENVISAT2 over Queensland last Saturday evening. The stabilisation of the light MIR over the worst conditions which could be found on the Earth is certainly encouraging for the future, though the cause of its destruction still needs to be identified.
March 2^nd : MIR ENVISAT2 carrying SAOZ/H2O fell down last night after 9-day flight over a very high convective system over the Australian Great Barrier Reef. The payloads landed a little inland in a small mountains area South of the city of Townsville. We will make all effort to recover both gondolas. The lightened MIR46 is still in flight at higher altitude on average, currently north of New Zealand. The SAOZ spectrometer is working beautifully.
Feb 25^th : The field campaign is now over. Two MIR are in flight (see MIR trajectories ) : lightened MIR 46 carrying SAOZ launched on Feb 23rd at 23:00 UT and ENVISAT2 carrying SAOZ/H2O, a lightning/blue jet sensor and a radiometer launched on Feb 20th at 23:00 UT. The 3 short duration flights (two 10ZL-ENVISAT and the 3SF) were successful. We anticipate excellent data for the validation of ENVISAT.
Feb 25^th : Payloads of the second 10ZL-ENVISAT flight (SAOZ, SAOZ/BrO, DIRAC N2O, MICRO-LIDAR and O3 SSS/H2O SAW) were brought back to IPMet yesterday evening. All instruments worked properly.
Feb 23^rd : The new lightened MIR carrying the SAOZ gondola recovered after failure of the first MIR ENVISAT was launched successfully today at 20:00 local time (23:00 UT). Maximum altitude of 39 km as expected. MIR trajectory map available on CNES WEB site : Lightened MIR46 map .
Feb 23^rd : The second 10ZL- ENVISAT flight carrying SAOZ, SAOZ/BrO, DIRAC N2O, MICRO-LIDAR and O3 SSS/H2O SAW took place successfully around 17:20 local time. At float at 29 km altitude, cut down was activated after 2 hours and 30 minutes nighttime flight when altitude was 26 km . SAOZ did excellent measurements. Information on the other payloads will be available after recovery (no telemetry).
Feb 23^rd : The launch of the MIR RUMBA carrying RUMBA-H2O/O3 and RUMBA Turbulence failed yesterday night around the tropopause level. Payloads and balloon were recovered today at about 10 km from Bauru for investigations.
Feb 20^th : The launch of the second MIR ENVISAT carrying SAOZ/H2O and lightning/blue jet sensor and also a radiometer on board the Narcisse Inmarsat gondola took place successfully today at 20:00 local time (23:00 UT). MIR trajectory map available on CNES WEB site : ENVISAT2 map .
Feb 20^th : The payloads of the first MIR ENVISAT carrying SAOZ have been returned to IPMet. SAOZ seems to be only slightly damaged.
Feb 20^th : The 3SF payloads (DIRAC CFCs/SLS, MICRO-LIDAR, Descartes CFCs/SLS and O3 SSS/H2O SAW) were recovered today. All instruments worked properly.
Feb 19^th : The launch of the first MIR ENVISAT carrying SAOZ failed. Although weather conditions were excellent, the bottom part of the balloon opened suddenly at launch. The MIR climbed up to 16 km altitude and then started to descent rapidly. The payloads are still sending Argos messages and have been therefore rapidly located, at about 15 km North-East from Bauru where a team has been sent for recovery and investigations.
Feb 19^th : The 3SF flight carrying DIRAC CFCs/SLS, MICRO-LIDAR, Descartes CFCs/SLS and O3 SSS/H2O SAW took place successfully today. It has been launched 1 hour and a half before sunset, at float at 21.8 km altitude for 20 minutes before sunset, then descending slowly during nighttime at about 0.5 to 1 m/s. Cut down has been activated after 2 hours and 20 minutes at float and 18.8 km altitude for safety reasons (balloon drifting towards lake areas). The MICRO-LIDAR did excellent measurements. Information on the other payloads will be available after recovery (no telemetry).
Feb 19^th : The payloads of the first 10ZL- ENVISAT flight carrying SAOZ, SAOZ/H2O, DIRAC N2O and O3 SSS/H2O SAW have been returned yesterday evening to IPMet. All the instruments performed correctly.
Feb 18^th : The first 10ZL- ENVISAT flight carrying SAOZ, SAOZ/H2O, DIRAC N2O and O3 SSS/H2O SAW took place successfully early this morning.
Feb 17^th : The first 10ZL- ENVISAT flight has been cancelled early this morning after the met briefing due to high risk of rain. New attempt tomorrow Tuesday 18 early morning. The first MIR ENVISAT is tentatively scheduled on Tuesday evening.
Feb 14^th : The whole equipment has been delivered yesterday. All groups are working hard and the flight programme is being revised. It starts with the 10ZL- ENVISAT 1, morning flight early on Monday 17. The first MIR ENVISAT is tentatively scheduled on Tuesday or Wednesday evening.
Feb 12^th : UCAM O3 radiosounding at 12h UT.