So, if you have read through Michel's blog up to now, you might wonder why we are not actually measuring something or at least are busy setting up our instrumentation.
The reason is: Customs. Although we accounted for some time that is required to get a whole load of expensive scientific instruments through the importation procedure (first shipments were sent in October 2007), we are still waiting for equipment to be released. But there's hope. During the last week or so, one shipment each day was released. There were a total of about 13 shipments (from the different participating research groups), and it seems we are on a good way. Optimistic estimate is that the Mainz equipment (of the Particle Chemistry Dept.) is released this week. This would be fine, since another (Harvard/Colorado) will install their Aerosol Mass Spectrometer at the field site over the weekend, and we can not work both inside the measurement container, that would be too narrow. So, if we can install Monday/Tuesday, we will be happy. In that case we can use the weekend to test our equipment here at INPA (the Amazonas Research Institute at Manaus), which has turned out to be a good idea.
Marco and me (Johannes) visited the field site yesterday, and our general impression was positive. I think it is a nice place to work (but we have to admit we had nice weather and no rain.
Nice weather means 26°C and 100% rel. humidity). But that's bearable! I had imagined it to be worse.
I climbed up to the top of the 60 m tower, and the view from up there was really impressive: Trees as far as you can see. A green ocean.
So, what are we doing in between: Well, this and that: Buying equipment that is missing (because we decided not to ship it but to buy it here), doing our usual work (via slow internet access), and sightseeing (we took a day off on Sunday). Teatro Amazonico is a must, but the street market was also very nice, and walking around in Manaus city was definitely interesting!
1 comment:
Olá pesquisadores do AMAZE,
Gostei muito do site. Gostaria de ler um relato de pesquisador brasileiro que faz parte desta grandiosa Expedição Científica. Quais foram as dificuldades enfrentadas pelo projeto? Do ponto de vista do envio de equipamentos a serem instalados no campo. Ouvi falar que foram nada menos que 30 toneladas de equipamentos! Do ponto de vista climático de Manaus (agora é período das chuvas) tiveram alguma dificuldade para chegar no site? Parabéns a todos pelo empenho e fico aguardo os resultados científicos, com muitas descobertas, em nossos meios de comunicação.
Erika Schloemp
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