This readme.txt file was generated on 2021/05/10 by Christopher Geach ------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------- 1. Title of Dataset: Supplementary data for "Trajectories of long duration balloons launched from McMurdo Station in Antarctica" 2. Author Information Author Contact Information Name: Christopher Geach Email: geach003@umn.edu Group: School of Physics and Astronomy, Hanany - Observational Cosmology Lab 3. Time period of content: 1990-12-20 to 2020-01-17 4. Geographic location of data collection (where was data collected?): McMurdo Station, Antarctica -------------------------- SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: Geach, Christopher, Shaul Hanany, Chiou Yang Tan, and Xin Zhi Tan "Trajectories of long duration balloons launched from McMurdo Station in Antarctica," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 7(2), 027002 (21 May 2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.7.2.027002 --------------------- DATA & FILE OVERVIEW --------------------- 1. File List A. data.zip The 40 CSV files represent the raw data GPS trajectories from scientific balloons released from McMurdo Station. They are named by the flight number of the respective balloon missions. These flight numbers are assigned by the Columbia Scientific Ballooning Facility. B. analysis.zip i. probability_hitmap.csv: This file contains the relative probability of visitation of each 1 degree by 1 degree pixel in latitude and longitude. The coordinates given indicate the center of each pixel; data have a bounding box (WSEN) of -179.5, -88.5, 179.5,-53.5 with values given in degrees. Negative values correspond to southern latitudes and western longitudes. ii. lat_vs_time.csv: This file contains the latitude distribution of balloon trajectories as a function of time since launch. Latitudes are given in degrees, and negative values correspond to southern latitudes. iii. Max_lat_vs_time.csv: This file contains the distribution of the maximum (northernmost) latitude experienced by balloon trajectories as a function of time since launch in hours. Latitudes are given in degrees, and negative values correspond to southern latitudes. iv. Min_lat_vs_time.csv: This file contains the distribution of the minimum (southernmost) latitude experienced by balloon trajectories as a function of time since launch in hours. Latitudes are given in degrees, and negative values correspond to southern latitudes. v. lat_vs_time_split_by_altitude.csv: This file contains the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile contours of the latitude distribution experienced by balloon trajectories as a function of time since launch in hours. The data are given separately for two groups of balloons: the balloons with the highest median altitude (High Group), and the balloons with the lowest median altitude (Low Group). Latitudes are given in degrees, and negative values correspond to southern latitudes. vi. Min_max_lat_vs_time_split_by_altitude.csv: This file contains the 90th percentile contours of minimum and maximum latitudes experienced by balloon trajectories as a function of time since launch in hours. The data are given separately for two groups of balloons: the balloons with the highest median altitude (High Group), and the balloons with the lowest median altitude (Low Group). Latitudes are given in degrees, and negative values correspond to southern latitudes. 3. Relationship between files: Each file in data.zip contains the data for a single balloon flight trajectory. The files in analysis.zip contain data products derived from analysis of the raw data. -------------------------- METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: The data were collected by GPS receivers aboard NASA-flown balloons. 2. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: N/A 3. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: The data have been provided by the Columbia Scientific Ballooning Facility (CSBF). The data processing was performed by Christopher Geach, Shaul Hanany, Chiou Yang Tan, and Xin Zhi Tan. ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: xxxN.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 4 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List A. Name: Time (seconds since launch) B. Name: Latitude (degrees) C. Name: Longitude (degrees) D. Name: Altitude (km) ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: probability_hitmap.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 3 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Latitude (degrees) B. Name: Longitude (degrees) C. Name: Probability of visitation (dimensionless) 4. Note: The "Probability of visitation" is determined over 1 degree by 1 degree bins in latititude and longitude, centered around the corresponding location listed in the first two columns. ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: lat_vs_time.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 3 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Flight duration (hours) B. Name: Latitude (degrees) C. Name: Probability (dimensionless) ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Max_lat_vs_time.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 3 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Flight duration (hours) B. Name: Latitude (degrees) C. Name: Probability (dimensionless) ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Min_lat_vs_time.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 3 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Flight duration (hours) B. Name: Latitude (degrees) C. Name: Probability (dimensionless) ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: lat_vs_time_split_by_altitude.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 9 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Flight duration (hours) B. Name: Low Group 10th percentile latitude (degrees) C. Name: Low Group 25th percentile latitude (degrees) D. Name: Low Group 75th percentile latitude (degrees) E. Name: Low Group 90th percentile latitude (degrees) F. Name: High Group 10th percentile latitude (degrees) G. Name: High Group 25th percentile latitude (degrees) H. Name: High Group 75th percentile latitude (degrees) I. Name: High Group 90th percentile latitude (degrees) ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Min_max_lat_vs_time_split_by_altitude.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 5 2. Missing data codes: N/A 3. Variable List: A. Name: Flight duration (hours) B. Name: Low Group 90th percentile maximum latitude (degrees) C. Name: High Group 90th percentile maximum latitude (degrees) D. Name: Low Group 90th percentile minimum latitude (degrees) E. Name: High Group 90th percentile minimum latitude (degrees)