Eole-1 Satellite Balloon Data for Southern Hemisphere Upper Atmosphere

Eole-1 satellite data contains raw temperature, pressure, and location records from balloons near the 200 mbar pressure level. Each orbit record includes a heading with orbit number, balloon contacts, and control number, followed by balloon-specific data like date, location, and ambient conditions. These data were collected in 1972 by NASA under a cooperative agreement with the French space agency CNES.

Use Cases

• Derive upper-level wind speed and direction by comparing successive balloon location coordinates.
• Analyze ambient temperature and pressure readings near 200 mbar to study atmospheric stability.
• Use balloon number and date of observation to track individual instrument trajectories over time.
• Study spatial patterns of atmospheric conditions using location data confined to 30°S to 60°S.

Strengths

• Data is structured sequentially by orbit with clear record headings.
• Records are consolidated, with a maximum of 25 balloon contacts per single orbit record.

Limitations

• Data is from a single year (1972), limiting analysis of temporal trends.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to the region between 30°S and 60°S.
• Original data format was converted from a BCD tape, which may introduce legacy encoding issues.

Provenance

Source

NASA GES DISC, from the Eole-1 (CAS-A) satellite experiment.

Collection Method

Obtained from balloons near 200 mbar, with data transmitted via satellite and originally recorded on a BCD tape.

Time Range

1972

Freshness

null

Geography

Region between 30°S and 60°S latitude.