Day Twenty - Balloon Launch at Sea

 

Weather balloons are launched weekly from the top deck of the Octantis.  Their launch time is  synchronized with the thousands of others launched around the world, all of which feed data into the world-wide weather forecasting system.  This morning's launch time was 9:00 AM.  About 8:30, passengers began gathering on the top deck in the rain and wind to await the  launch.  Thankfully, the dining staff had set up a tent and were serving coffee and hot chocolate to the few hardy souls in attendance. 

At 8:59:50 the count down began; 10-9-8......3-2-1 launch!  The 4' balloon with its radiosonde climbed rapidly into the low hanging clouds.  Over the next four hours it reached 33,000' before bursting and falling back to earth.  

Following the launch, the kitchen staff served hot "sticky buns" along with the hot beverages.  With less than "ideal" weather, it wasn't long before the passengers departed to the World Cafe for a hardy breakfast.