More about Sylke Boyd
Morris, Minn.
I am a physics professor at the University of Minnesota-Morris, which, among other things, includes maintaining the UMM weather station and teaching a couple of courses on the physics of the atmosphere. My passion for weather grew slowly over the past several years, was fed by experiences with tropical storms during five years of life in New Orleans, and certainly has been blooming since 2004, when my family moved to Morris, Minn.
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Balloon on its way to past Long Prairie - via stratosphere
Conditions: 35.9°, Cloudy, Wind speed/direction NW 9, Wind chill 29.6°, Precipitation 0.16", Dew point 34.3°, Barometer 29.888 rising rapidly
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Morris is cold and dreary under a low cloud ceiling today, which did not stop my colleague Gordon McIntosh and his students in Experimental Physics from launching their stratospheric balloon this morning. There were many frozen fingers, noses and toes out here at the Morris water tower, but everything went smoothly. The students prepared a series of measurements, including various photometric experiments, radiation, composition, temperature, pressure, etc, which will profile the atmosphere up to a height of 40 miles. There, the balloon is expected to pop and drop its load with a little parachute. The balloon took off in a southeasterly direction, but as it gains height and passes through the jet stream region, it will move more to a north-easterly path.
The sensors are packaged in a series of small cubic styrofoam containers to protect them from cold and impact, the position is tracked by GPS, in addition to a noise beeper to ease the search at the end. Now, the chase is on - hopefully everything will be recovered. I will keep you posted on the results.
The sensors are packaged in a series of small cubic styrofoam containers to protect them from cold and impact, the position is tracked by GPS, in addition to a noise beeper to ease the search at the end. Now, the chase is on - hopefully everything will be recovered. I will keep you posted on the results.
- WCCO
- Star Tribune
November 23, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 4 P.M. Weather UpdateSome more rain possible tonight and a repeat on Tuesday, Chris Shaffer reports (1:00).
November 23, 2009 - WCCO-TV @ Your Desk 11 A.M. Weather UpdateDon't look now, but there's the possibility for a little bit of snow in the forecast, Mike Augustyniak reports (1:00).
November 23, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 7 A.M. Weather UpdateThe atmosphere is expected to be somewhat unsettled over the next few days, Mike Augustyniak reports (1:00).
Nov. 22, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 9:30 P.M. Weather UpdateEven though we are expecting some precipitation, it won't be heavy and there is only a chance of rain and snow mixed late Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day, Mike Fairbourne reports (1:00).
Nov. 22, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 5 P.M. Weather UpdateIn the past, it has not been uncommon to have a Thanksgiving week storm somewhere in the midwest that would threaten travel plans. That will not be the case this year, Mike Fairbourne reports (1:00).
November 22, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 11 A.M. Weather UpdateAbove average temperatures again Sunday but snow and showers on the way into the week, Ron Trenda reports (1:00).
November 21, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 9:30 P.M. Weather UpdatePatchy fog Sunday morning, Mike Fairbourne reports (1:00).
November 21, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 4 P.M. Weather UpdateIncreasing clouds should keep Saturday evening above 40, Mike Fairbourne reports (1:00).
Nov. 21, 2009 - WCCO 4 News Saturday Morning Weather ReportAnother mild day with clear skies, Ron Trenda reports (1:47).
Nov. 20, 2009 - WCCO 4 News 6:30 P.M. Weather UpdateIt will be breezy Saturday, but this will be the warmer day, Chris Shaffer reports (1:00).
Snow shortage of opinion
Red River grit
NewsBreak for April 2, 2009
Reporter's Notebook: Reflections on the flood
Fargo/Moorhead Record: 40.82 Feet
Where flood crest predictions come from
Reporter's Notebook: One day in the Red River Valley
Scenes from the flood zone
Living next to the Red River
NewsBreak for April 1, 2009Minnesota regional forecasts
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