Somethings looking behind you is not a bad idea. Yesterday, we launched an ozonesonde (a device that measures ozone from the ground to about 85000 feet) with calm winds under hot conditions. Last night in Cape Verde the winds started to blow but it did not seem so bad and the sky was cloud covered. But launching the balloon was a mess. We waited a bit for air traffic control to give us the green light and when the did we were like ... let do this. Trouble was that the wind was blowing at 20 mph but the nearest station is Dakar Senegal (300 miles away). I tried to check their observations but the noon measurements did not come in yet. At any rate, at launch the balloon was oscillating wildly and wanted to either crash into the ground or run into a large wind vane which provides current for the station. I tried to be a hero and hold on to it like a cowboy and got bad rope burn. At last I let the thing go and ozonesonde just cleared the ground and went nearly horizontal. It just cleared the the volcanic crater in front of the station. Winds for the first 2000 feet were between 30-40 mph and the balloon just went over the Island at a low altitude. After 30 minutes the balloon is at 9000 feet by yesterday was at 15000 feet at the same time. I have a feeling this balloon won't make it to 85000 feet because of the stress on it. Of course I saw all of this when the Dakar measurements just came in about 30 minutes ago. Looked back too late.
The forecast is for the same tomorrow, but we will try to be better prepared.
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