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Thursday January 3, 2008 Update This is the third update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The second count was held on Thursday January 3, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The winds at Andenes were marginally too strong to launch and the launcher was kept in the horizontal position. Avalanche danger at Longyearbyen continued through the early morning but starting about 0900 the snow plow began clearing the road and the effort was still underway at 1300. We hope that the telemetry tracking crew will reach their stations for the first time tomorrow. The window was closed at 1050 UT. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for warming and snow. Below is a picture of the rocket payload in Andenes from the Lynch Rocket Lab site on SCIFER2. |
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Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions are unchanged. The solar wind velocity is currently 325 km/s and the density is 1/cm^3. An active region on the sun is just rotating into view and we expect it to be geoeffective in 4-6 days. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -7.1 C (19.2 F) Wind chill -24.9 C (-12.8 F) Wind Speed 17.1 m/s (38.1 mph) stiff winds and snowing.. Andenes: Temperature 2 C (35 F) Wind Speed 15 mph mix of cloud and sun EISCAT: winds are 62 mph Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. Local color: The past three attempts by SAS to fly to Longyearbyen have been canceled stranding two of our colleagues on the mainland. We hope that they can get in late tonight some 3 days past their original arrival date. For those of you who do not know where EISCAT is located (see current weather conditions above), it is about 10 miles south of Longyearbyen on 1500 ft mountain ridge. The winds there are nearly hurricane force today. Scientist locations on January 2, 2008: Paul Kintner: Longyearbyen Erik Lundberg: Tromso waiting for a flight to Longyearbyen Marc Lessard: Tromso waiting for a flight to Longyearbyen Kristina Lynch: Andenes Meghan Mella: Andenes |
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Friday January 4, 2008 Update This is fourth update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The third count was held on Friday January 4, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range permitted raising the rocket to the vertical position for the first time. The avalanche danger at Longyearbyen has passed and the telemetry tracking crew reached their stations for the first time. The science team used the facilities at the KHO Auroral observatory for the first time. The space weather conditions were very quiet. The window was closed at 1045 UT. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for warmer and clearer weather. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions are unchanged. The solar wind velocity is currently 310 km/s and the density is 2/cm^3. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed and density will increase for tomorrow's window. The active region, expected to rotate into view in the next few days, is declining in activity.. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -9.8 C (14.3 F) Wind chill -21.9 C (-7.4 F) Wind speed 6.7 m/s (15 mph) good visibility with occasional stars Andenes: Temperature 0 C (32 F) Wind speed 7.2 m/s (16.1 mph) partly sunny Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. Our first vertical checks were successfully completed today. |
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Local color: Our colleagues stuck in Tromso on the mainland arrived after their fourth attempt at flying to Longyearbyen at about midnight and reported seeing aurora from the airplane. They went to work at 3:00 AM. The last mile of our trip to the KHO observatory involved traveling across the snow in a band wagon. Scientist locations on January 4, 2008: Paul Kintner: Longyearbyen Erik Lundberg: Longyearbyen (at long last) Marc Lessard: Longyearbyen (at long last) Kristina Lynch: Andenes Meghan Mella: Longyearbyen |
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Saturday January 5, 2008 Update This is fifth update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The fourth count was held on Saturday January 4, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range too strong to risk raising the rocket to the vertical position for the first time. The avalanche dangers in the region have passed. The science team drove directly to KHO Auroral observatory without using the band wagon and having only a mild adventure. The space weather conditions were excellent in spite of the poor weather at the launch range. The window was closed at 1045 UT after the winds failed to subside and the excellent space weather became less active. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for warmer and clearer weather. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions improved markedly today. The solar wind velocity has doubled to 600 km/s and the density is 2/cm^3. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed and density will have sustained high values for tomorrow's window. During this window there were excellent science conditions for launch, sustained ion upflows, bright and widespread 6300 auroral arcs, magnetic field fluctuations, dense and hot ionosphere, and sustained convection. Unfortunately the winds were too strong for launching. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -2.2 C (28.0 F) Wind chill -13.2 C (8.24 F) Wind speed 7.3 m/s (16.3 mph) good visibility with occasional stars Andenes: Temperature 2 C (34 F) Wind speed 13.4 m/s (30 mph) sunny Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. Only horizontal checks were completed today. |
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Local color: We have had very heavy snow over the past several days although now the weather has cleared and is quite comfortable. Above is a picture showing the snow conditions around the KHO observatory. It features the observatory director (Fred "the polar bear" Sigernes) trying to clear the entry way steps from snow so that we could crawl up the snow bank to the band wagon. |
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Sunday January 6, 2008 Update This is fifth update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The fifth count was held on Thursday January 4, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range permitted raising the rocket to the vertical position. The science team drove directly to KHO Auroral observatory without using the band wagon and having only a moderate adventure. The winds aloft were too strong to count down below 15 minutes. The window was closed at 1045 UT after the winds failed to subside. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for warmer and clearer weather. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions began very active. Earlier in the night a 60,000 Raleigh aurora was reported. The solar wind velocity continued to be strong gusting 700 km/s but the density declined to 1/cm^3. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed and density will continue for tomorrow's window. A substorm produced aurora over Longyearbyen about 1 hour before the window opened. However during the window the solar wind density and magnetic field decreased leading to less space weather as the window continued. Unfortunately the winds were too strong for launching regardless of the space weather. We remain optimistic for tomorrow when there will be clearing skies over all of Svalbard. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -4.2 C (20.0 F) Wind chill -14C (7 F) Wind speed 6.1 m/s (14 mph) overcast Andenes: Temperature 3 C (36 F) Wind speed 7.6 m/s (17 mph) sunny Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. The payload was in the vertical position and nominal for the window today. |
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Local color: Above is a photo a Svalbard Reindeer taken just outside our lodgings by Meghan. The reindeer are a special subspecies losing nearly half their weight over the winter.. In the summer they weigh 90 kg and during the winter they weigh 60 kg. They are remarkably docile with only the polar bear to fear. Also both the male and female grow antlers but presumably not this time of the year.. |
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Monday January 7, 2008 Update This is sixth update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The sixth count was held on Monday January 7, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range permitted raising the rocket to the vertical position. The science team drove directly to KHO Auroral observatory without using the band wagon with the adventure level increasing as the snow depth increases in the trench created by the snow plow. The winds aloft were too strong to count down below 15 minutes until the last hour of the window. Also 4 hours of the window were blocked by an air ambulance traveling from Tromso (on the main land) to Longyearbyen and returning. At 1010 UT a stable arc appeared over Svabard. The countdown was started and then held at 3:00 min waiting for the science conditions to improve. The auroral arc declined to cooperate and the window was closed at 1050 UT. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for colder and clearer weather. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions were moderate today. The solar wind velocity continued to be strong gusting 700 km/s but the density (1/cm^3) and magnetic field (5 nT) were small. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed and density will continue for tomorrow's window. Several substorms produced aurora over Longyearbyen both before and during the window. However the solar wind density and magnetic field were less than two days ago making the desired ion upflow conditions less likely and only sporadic ion upflows were observed. Unfortunately the winds aloft were too strong for launching regardless of the space weather until the last hour of the window. We remain optimistic for tomorrow when there will be clearing skies over all of Svalbard. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -7.4 C (18.7 F) Wind speed 2.3 m/s (5.1 mph) overcast Andenes: Temperature 0 C (32 F) Wind speed 3.1 m/s (6.9 mph) sunny Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. The payload was in the vertical position and nominal for the window today. |
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Local color: Although the weather has improved substantially with milder temperatures and periods of light snow, we thought that you might appreciate a picture of some scientists braving the weather a few days earlier. Above is a photo made on the front steps of the KHO Observatory showing from left to right Marc Lessard from UNH, Erik Lundberg from Cornell, and Meghan Mella from Dartmouth. Notice the 2.5 m snow bank behind them. Also we have a correction concerning the Svalbard reindeer and polar bears. Evidently polar bears do not hunt the reindeer because it takes more energy to catch them than the reindeer fat content is worth. I guess once one has tasted seal nothing else is as good. |
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Tuesday January 8, 2008 Update This is seventh update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The seventh count was held on Tuesday January 8, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range permitted raising the rocket to the vertical position. The science team continues to drive directly to KHO Auroral Observatory. The winds aloft have decreased in intensity and the rocket was "in" for winds during the last half of the window. There were several isolated substorms on the night side which failed to bring steady ion upflows on the dayside. Several periods of transient upflow were observed. Both Longyearbyen and Ny Alesund were overcast so that we could not receive auroral images. The window was closed at at 1150 LT due to a high priority flight from Russia crossing the polar cap to Anchorage. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for colder and clearer weather. |
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Local color: To reach the KHO Observatory we rise at 3:00 AM every morning and then drive about 10 miles. As the road leaves town we encounter the sign shown in the picture above. It means "in effect for all of Svalbard". Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions were moderate today. The solar wind velocity continued to be strong gusting at 700 km/s but the density (1/cm^3) and magnetic field (4 nT) were small. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed will decrease somewhat tomorrow and the density will continue unchanged for tomorrow's window. There were two sustained periods of southward Bz resulting in small substorms and sporadic outflows seen in EISCAT. We remain optimistic for tomorrow when there will be clearing skies over all of Svalbard. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -5.1 C (22.8F) Wind speed 2.3 m/s (5.1 mph) snowing Andenes: Temperature 2 C (35.6 F) Wind speed 5.1 m/s (6.9 mph) sunny Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. The payload was in the vertical position and nominal for the window today. |
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Wednesday January 9, 2008 Update This is seventh update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The eighth count was held on Tuesday January 9, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The ground winds at Andoya Rocket Range have improved substantially and are no longer obstruct the possibility of launching. The science team continues to drive directly to KHO Auroral Observatory for which we have included a picture. There were several intense substorms on the night side before the window opened. A pair of quiet, stable auroral arcs maintained themselves over Svalbard for the first half of the window and become less well-defined and diffuse during the second half. About one hour before the nominal end of the window, weak and transient aurora appeared to the north of Svalbard and danced around us. We continued the window 30 minutes past the nominal end but hitting this aurora would be like Cheney trying to shoot quail. The window was closed at at 1230 LT due to a high priority flight from Russia crossing the polar cap to Anchorage. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for colder and clearer weather. |
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Local color: The final kilometer to the KHO observatory is on open tundra and has been plowed once since we have been here. Our picture of the day shows Erik lying in this road hoping to be noticed by a personal injury lawyer. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions were moderate today. The solar wind velocity subsided somewhat to 500 km/s and the density (1/cm^3) and magnetic field (4 nT) were small. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed will continue to decrease tomorrow and the density will continue unchanged for tomorrow's window. The solar wind magnetic field was variable with nearly all conditions occurring. There was no auroral activity until late in the window and it stayed well north of Svalbard. Little if any activity was seen in the EISCACT Svalard Radar. The skies have cleared over Svalbard and should remain clear for the next 24 hours. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Wind chill -19.7 C (-3.5 F) clear skies Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. The payload was in the vertical position and nominal for the window today. |
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Thursday January 10, 2008 Update This is ninth update for SCIFER 2 collaborators and friends participating in the SCIFER 2 campaign. Breaking news: The ninth count was held on Thursday January 10, 2008 with the window opening at 0600 UT. The winds at Andoya Rocket Range were quiet and permitted launching. The science team continues to drive directly to KHO Auroral Observatory and attached is picture of the observatory taken this morning. When we arrived there was a moderate auroral display and quiet auroral arcs maintained themselves to the north of Svalbard for the first half of the window dissipating for the second half. The next count down begins at 0300 UT (0400 Norway time). Science station time is 0330 UT (0430 Norway time) at UNIS IPY room. A decision will be made whether to stay in town or to proceed to the KHO Auroral Observatory. The forecast tomorrow is for colder and clearer weather. | |||
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Local color: The station director Fred Sigernes took a time lapse picture 30 s) of the four Americans entering the auroral observatory. We are the four dark shapes toward bottom center. I (Paul Kintner) am on the left. The aurora can be seen above us and far in the background, ten miles away, is yellow from the sodium vapor lights in Svalbard. Space Weather Conditions: The space weather conditions were moderate today. The solar wind velocity subsided somewhat to 400 km/s and the density (1/cm^3) and magnetic field (4 nT) were small. The STEREO B satellite indicates that the solar wind speed will be quiet for tomorrow's window. The solar wind magnetic field was variable with nearly all conditions occurring. There was auroral activity that stayed well north of Svalbard during the first half of the window. Little if any activity was seen in the EISCACT Svalard Radar. The skies have cleared over Svalbard but are predicted to be cloudy for the next several days. Current Weather Conditions: Longyearbyen: Temperature -15.7 C (-3.7F) Wind chill -24.8 C (-12.6 F) clear skies Rocket/Payload status: The payload is mounted on the launcher and is operating nominally. The payload was in the vertical position and nominal for the window today.
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