Hey tech explorers! 🚀 Chinese scientists just sent their Jimu-1 tethered balloon —the super-cool aerostat—to 5,500 meters over Lulang, Nyingchi in the southwest of the Chinese mainland ’s Xizang Autonomous Region. 🎈
Loaded with 16 scientific gadgets (total weight ~200kg), Jimu-1 collected high-resolution 3D data on:
- Atmospheric composition 🌬️ – the mix of gases up there, from oxygen to trace pollutants.
- Pollutant distribution 🏭 – mapping how smog and toxins spread in different layers of the sky.
- Cloud microphysics ☁️ – diving into tiny droplets and ice crystals that shape our weather.
Why it matters: Having a 3D view of these elements gives researchers a fuller picture of how our ecosystem is changing —key intel for tackling air quality issues and climate change. 🌍
Plus, compared to satellites or drones, tethered balloons offer a steady, low-cost platform for continuous observation. Think of it as a real-life, science-grade selfie stick snapping photos of the sky ’s secrets! 🤳
With experiments like Jimu-1, young innovators across South and Southeast Asia can get inspired to explore new frontiers in environmental tech. Who ’s ready to join the next big leap in sky-high research? ✨
Reference(s):
China conducts aerostat experiment, realizing 3D ecosystem monitoring
cgtn.com
