Purpose of the flight and payload description
This flight was part of a series carried out in 2023 and 2024 to measure the vertical distribution of atmospheric black carbon (BC) from the surface to approximately 12 km over Hyderabad and identify the sources responsible for elevated BC layers. The observations focused on winter and pre-monsoon summer conditions and were used to investigate the persistence of BC layers in the middle and upper troposphere and their possible relationship with commercial aircraft emissions. The campaign was conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER-TVM) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Balloon Facility, Hyderabad.
The scientific payload comprised two instruments for in situ measurement of atmospheric black carbon: a seven-channel Aethalometer AE31 manufactured by Magee Scientific and a microAethalometer AE51 from AethLabs. The instruments sampled ambient air through static-dissipative inlet tubes attached to the gondola and measured BC mass concentrations throughout the balloon ascent. An integrating nephelometer, IN102 from AirPhoton, was also carried on the flights to measure aerosol total and backscattering coefficients at 450, 532, and 632 nm, although its measurements were restricted to lower altitudes. Two high-precision resistance temperature detectors, TMP1 probes from Vaisala, provided high-frequency temperature measurements. A GPS radiosonde, iMet-4 from InterMet Systems, measured pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, while altitude and wind data were derived from GPS positions at one-second intervals.
The instruments were mounted on the gondola and connected to custom onboard electronics that stored measurements internally and transmitted near-real-time data to the ground station through an S-band transponder. The payload also incorporated telemetry, telecommand and control equipment.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 1/21/2024 at 00:25 UTC
Launch site: TIFR National Balloon Facility, Hyderabad, India
Balloon launched by: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 3.023 m3
Balloon serial number:
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 1/21/2024 at 2:30 UTC
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h
The balloon was launched on January 21st, 2024 at 05:45 IST from the TIFR National Balloon Facility in Hyderabad. The flight obtained a vertical profile of black carbon, temperature and atmospheric parameters, with pronounced BC enhancements around 4, 8 and 11 km. The strongest and most persistent layer occurred between approximately 9 and 11 km, where BC concentrations reached about 6 g/m³. Winds around the 8 and 11 km BC layers were predominantly easterly at approximately 15 ms.
External references
- Interactive flight path of the balloon obtained via Airplanes Live!
- TIFR Balloon Facility website
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