Weather Balloon Launch

Today I helped launch a weather balloon! There are two launches a day in the summer time. These help define the topographical like map of pressure levels called isobars. They also tell you the temperature and humidity and wind speed. The humidity is actually pretty high outside, around 60% but once you raise the temperature of the air (like inside the station) the relative humidity drops to very close to zero.

This is the gauge inside right by my desk, next to my window with the most fantastic view any office window could have (ceremonial south pole marker).

 

 Tying off the balloon and releasing the balloon.

 There it goes. It's been pretty windy lately. The balloon will eventually pop and drop to the ice but they aren't retrieved because they go far and are extremely difficult to find.

Also got my snow mobile training today but I haven't used one yet.