Retrieving AirCore

Researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s Arctic Space Centre launched a big white balloon from Lapland to measure the amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere as part of ESA’s preparatory work for the new Copernicus Carbon Dioxide Monitoring satellite mission. Attached to the hydrogen-filled white balloon was a box that held an important instrument called AirCore. Expanding to its limits, the balloon eventually burst when it reached more than 30 km above the forest. Then, as the balloon pieces started falling, a parachute opened and brought AirCore slowly back to the ground.

On its journey back through the atmosphere, AirCore’s tubing collected measurements of molecules in the air that flowed through the instrument’s tubing – souvenirs from different heights. To prevent the molecules from mixing, the instrument must be collected as soon as possible after landing. The institute’s researchers have developed excellent tools for forecasting the landing, which help stop it from ending up in open water, towns, or other difficult places.

Read full story: Snowy Lapland and the white balloon