Students look at weather science
Weather balloon launched at school by research institute
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Thursday, April 23, 2015
INUVIK
Students at East Three School and public observers were blown away April 20 as the Aurora Research Institute launched a weather balloon into the atmosphere loaded with electronic sensors.
Deklen Crocker protectively holds the box full of meteorological sensors that was launched with a weather balloon from East Three School on April 20. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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Students from both wings of the school waited with anticipation while the sensor array was fastened to the balloon, which was then filled with helium.
As wind gusted over the school, Matthew Dare of the institute warned all present that the direction of the balloon could be unpredictable.
"We want everyone to stand back so they don't get hit in the face by the box," he cautioned. "And if it comes at you, don't grab it."
Fortunately, the warnings were not needed because the balloon took to the sky with remarkable speed and was lost from sight within minutes while dozens of spectators cheered.
Dare explained the launch was part of the Science Rendezvous program, which sponsors the national Canada-wide Experiment annually on May 9.
"As part of that this year, the University of Regina has started the Sea-to-Sea and Surface to Air program this year. The funding has provided these kits for us to launch into the air. It's something that's happening all over the world, actually, and there's quite a few all over Canada that are all being launched in the same time period, late April.
"What we have on board is a high-definition camera and a whole bunch of sensors. We'll be able to plot that date if we get it back, and there's a SPOT device that should be able to guide us to it."
Dare said predictions indicated the balloon, which was designed to be airborne for approximately three hours, would land at last 30 km away from Inuvik. More likely, it would touch down in the Norman Wells area or even the Yukon.
"It's going to be a trick to find it," he said. "But hopefully we'll have very accurate co-ordinates to be able to go out and pick it up."
That retrieval is likely to be done by snowmobile, Dare added with a smile.
He said it would be a "fun field trip" to track it down.
"If it comes down somewhere relatively close we might try to retrieve it tonight," he said.
If the array lands somewhere particularly inaccessible, it will be retrieved in the summer, Dare said.
Along with whatever data the sensor array can provide, the project was an excellent way to introduce students to real science that went far beyond the basics and engaged their imagination, Dare said.
"It's detailed atmospheric monitoring that we're carrying out here," he said. "Hopefully we'll be able to do a little data analysis and bring that all back for May 9, but we might not have it by then."
Deklen Crocker and Fletcher Dares, Matthew's son, were among the students working on the project. Both are members of the Inuvik Robotics Club, which assisted in preparing the sensor box.
The two boys had spent about a half-hour putting the finishing touches on the sensor array, and had been involved in planning the project from the start.
Fletcher said his ambition is to become an astronaut eventually, and found the experience valuable for that ambition.
"This is part of what you do," he said.
Deklen said he was interested in pursuing computer science for a career, and such a hands-on project would be great experience to build on.
Deborah Reid, the principal of the schools, said she is enthusiastic about the idea as well.
"The kids get to see real life science at the school (with this)," she said.
