The COBRAT project (Coupled Observations from Balloon Related to Asim and Taranis)

Abstract

International audienceWithin a few years the TARANIS (Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites) mission from CNES and the ASIM (Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor) from ESA will be operating in space. They are dedicated to the study of TLEs and TGFs and their potential consequences. Both phenomena are observed above thunderstorms and are supposed to be generated in the altitude range [10 km - 80 km]. Accordingly, coordinated measurements from balloons (in the vicinity of the generation regions) will be needed to identify unambiguously the generation mechanisms and the importance of the atmospheric effects. The aim of the COBRAT (Coupled Observations from Balloon Related to Asim and Taranis) project is to maximize the scientific return of the TARANIS and ASIM missions. It is based on the development and the operation of Zero Pressure Balloons (ZPB) that can reside in the middle stratosphere (altitudes in the 20-40 km range) above stormy areas for more than one week and can carry heavy poly-instrumented gondolas (up to 150 kg). We present and discuss the strategy adopted by the COBRAT project