• Air modification over a lead (the Lead Experiment)

Measuring energy transfer between the surface and atmosphere is difficult under normal conditions, and the difficult environments of the polar regions have not allowed accurate assesments of energy transfer between regions of open water to the atmosphere, in ice covered areas (leads, or polynyas). A wooden raft was contructed on which to mount a small homemade meteorlogical tower measuring wind speed, temperature, and humidity at two different levels. A balloon carried another instrument package high above the raft, but unfortunately failed to function. S-263 waited for the wind to flow out directly across the open water from the ice sheet, launched the raft and hoped to capture the essence of the turbulent heat transfers.

Jump to the photos of the lead experiment.