RAZoom – Developing and deploying an instrument for measuring ionisation in the atmosphere

Radio Astronomy Section meeting on Zoom, link by request from Paul Hearn [ paul@hearn.org.uk ]

Developing and deploying an instrument for measuring ionisation in the atmosphere

Dr Justin Tabbett Bristol University, School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering

High energy particles from space – cosmic rays – contribute significantly to the ionisation of the atmosphere and can affect electronics as well as the weather and climate. Having tools which can be deployed during periods of changing cosmic ray activity are vital to understanding the effects of cosmic rays in different regions of the atmosphere. This talk explores the development and then the deployment of such an instrument on a balloon flight in July 2024.