DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft & Raumfahrt e.V.) is a research centre of the Helmholtz Association and its approximately 8,500 employees are involved in research projects in the fields of aviation, aerospace, energy and transport. http://www.dlr.de
The SouthTRAC campaign is a joint atmospheric research project of international research centres and universities within the framework of the priority programme HALO (“High Altitude and Long Range”) research aircraft. https://www.pa.op.dlr.de/southtrac
As the logo already implies, the SouthTRAC project comprises the core areas Transport, Composition and Dynamics. Dynamics means the investigation of gravity waves in the area from Central South America to Antarctica. The cordillera between Mendoza and Calafate is an important location for the development of these gravity waves. To measure the waves close to the source, the team in Calafate under the direction of Dr. Andreas Dörnbrack is on site with the help of radiosonde ascents and measurements on manned missiles.
A Stemme S10VT from the Mountainwave Project e. V. is used as the the flying base. Dr. Norman Wildmann has developed a sensor platform with which the three-dimensional wind vector, temperature, humidity and position can be measured and stored during flight.
The great advantage of measurements with the Stemme S10VT is that data can be recorded dynamically over large ranges of the spatial investigation area. By using the wave structures for gliding, measurements can be carried out directly in the waves.
Radiosonde measurements provide the thermal stratification that is crucial for the formation and propagation of gravity waves.
https://www.pa.op.dlr.de/southtrac/news/2019/09/22/campaign-insights-1-radiosonde-launching/
A total of 30 radiosonde ascents are planned for the duration of the project in Calafate. https://www.pa.op.dlr.de/southtrac/html/soaring/blog.html
