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logo Field Report ~ SAFARI 2000

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Northern Extent of the Drakensberge
After the meeting, Tim Suttles from Goddard, Bob Cook from ORNL, Phil Russell from Ames, and myself drove through this part of the Drakensberge on the way to Skukuza via Blydepoort. This is Voortrekker country, at the edge of the Highveld. After the meeting, Tim Suttles from Goddard, Bob Cook from ORNL, Phil Russell from Ames, and myself drove through this part of the Drakensberge on the way to Skukuza via Blydepoort. This is Voortrekker country, at the edge of the Highveld.
God's Window
Bob and Tim look over the edge. Not much to see, too many clouds. Great view of the Lowveld when they part. The San man of "The Gods Must be Crazy" throws the pop bottle (which fell from the sky and konked his buddy) over the edge of his world near here. Bob and Tim look over the edge. Not much to see, too many clouds. Great view of the Lowveld when they part. The San man of 'The Gods Must be Crazy' throws the pop bottle (which fell from the sky and konked his buddy) over the edge of his world near here.
Jungle Explorer
Between the Highveld & Lowveld, these mountians rise at the edge of a great continental plateau. This range of cliffs is the first obstacle that humid air from the Indian Ocean is pushed over as it moves up to the interior. As the air rises, it gives up moisture, and a small rainforest grows at this dramatic boundary. Between the Highveld & Lowveld, these mountians rise at the edge of a great continental plateau. This range of cliffs is the first obstacle that humid air from the Indian Ocean is pushed over as it moves up to the interior. As the air rises, it gives up moisture, and a small rainforest grows at this dramatic boundary.
Oom Paul Kruger
A bust of Uncle Paul Kruger looks over an entrance to the park he established over 100 years ago. That's what I call stubborn practical foresight. We are crossing the Sabie river, which had recently flooded. At the meeting, the Park's representative showed videos of the floodwaters up to Oom Paul's chin. Note the guard rail of the bridge, ruined by big debris in the fast waters. A bust of Uncle Paul Kruger looks over an entrance to the park he established over 100 years ago. That's what I call stubborn practical foresight. We are crossing the Sabie river, which had recently flooded. At the meeting, the Park's representative showed videos of the floodwaters up to Oom Paul's chin. Note the guard rail of the bridge, ruined by big debris in the fast waters.
A Mopani Worm (I Think)
I have had identified for me cooked caterpillars served as beer munchies that must have looked like this fella before being sautéed. I did not partake, so I can't comment on how they taste. I'll eat a lot of weird-looking things, especially out of the oceans, but I won't eat bugs. Blechh! I have had identified for me cooked caterpillars served as beer munchies that must have looked like this fella before being sautéed. I did not partake, so I can't comment on how they taste. I'll eat a lot of weird-looking things, especially out of the oceans, but I won't eat bugs. Blechh!
Low Water Bridge to Skukuza Airport
This bridge will have nary a trickle under it come winter. The floodwaters were over the red roof of the van at this point. Debris piled up on the shore tells the story. I and my field team will have to cross this bridge early every morning on our way the experiment site I picked out on this trip. This bridge will have nary a trickle under it come winter. The floodwaters were over the red roof of the van at this point. Debris piled up on the shore tells the story. I and my field team will have to cross this bridge early every morning on our way the experiment site I picked out on this trip.
MISR Site at Skukuza Airport
There is a large grassy area adjacent to these hangars at the end of the runway at Skukuza Airport. The trees have been cleared back far enough for our instruments to ge a good enough view of the sky down to the horizon. There is also a fence around the area to keep the hyenas out (if someone doesn't leave the gate open). From left to right: Tim, Park Ranger in charge of research coordination Holger Eckhardt, Bob, and Phil. There is a large grassy area adjacent to these hangars at the end of the runway at Skukuza Airport. The trees have been cleared back far enough for our instruments to ge a good enough view of the sky down to the horizon. There is also a fence around the area to keep the hyenas out (if someone doesn't leave the gate open). From left to right: Tim, Park Ranger in charge of research coordination Holger Eckhardt, Bob, and Phil.
We Make a Friend on the Way Back
Game viewing is the thing to do at Skukuza. We met this fellow on the way back to camp from the airport. He did not seem too concerned about the van full of gung-ho scientists in front of him leaning out of the windows and snapping off photos. We will certainly keep our cameras handy during the experiment! Game viewing is the thing to do at Skukuza. We met this fellow on the way back to camp from the airport. He did not seem too concerned about the van full of gung-ho scientists in front of him leaning out of the windows and snapping off photos. We will certainly keep our cameras handy during the experiment!
Getting to the Skukuza SAVE Tower
Besides the patch at the airport, another site of interest to MISR is the SAVE tower that Jeff Privette from GSFC had installed. I'll try to mount PARABOLA on it. We're preparing to walk to the tower, about 1.5 km from the graded dirt road we came in on. We were escorted by an armed game guard (who's name was unpronounceable by mere mortals), and joined by Niall Hanan from Colorado State who installs & maintains instruments on the tower. Besides the patch at the airport, another site of interest to MISR is the SAVE tower that Jeff Privette from GSFC had installed. I'll try to mount PARABOLA on it. We're preparing to walk to the tower, about 1.5 km from the graded dirt road we came in on. We were escorted by an armed game guard (who's name was unpronounceable by mere mortals), and joined by Niall Hanan from Colorado State who installs & maintains instruments on the tower.
Somebody Got Stuck Here
Someone got a vehicle stuck real good here. This is why we were walking. If your LandRover gets mired, it's an 11km walk back to the camp, and you'd better hope your game guard is a good shot. The hike in was quite squishy for people, too. The tree was knocked over by an elephant to get at yummy leaves on top. Fairly impassable for vehicles. Someone got a vehicle stuck real good here. This is why we were walking. If your LandRover gets mired, it's an 11km walk back to the camp, and you'd better hope your game guard is a good shot. The hike in was quite squishy for people, too. The tree was knocked over by an elephant to get at yummy leaves on top. Fairly impassable for vehicles.
Our Game Guard Looks On
We pause before approaching the tower for a Kodak Photo Opportunity. Our game guard slings his rifle over his shoulder. The bore on that cannon looks to be about a half inch. The tower is situated in the middle of a wooded grassland. We pause before approaching the tower for a Kodak Photo Opportunity. Our game guard slings his rifle over his shoulder. The bore on that cannon looks to be about a half inch. The tower is situated in the middle of a wooded grassland.
Upper Part of Skukuza Tower
The tower is about 18m tall, and has no guy wires. The concrete plinth it is bolted to takes up a minimum of ground area extending out from the foot of tower. These factors are important for PARABOLA. Note the instrument booms. There three platforms including the one at the top, and a central ladder. Fun climbing (NOT!), and it sways in the wind (GULP!). The tower is about 18m tall, and has no guy wires. The concrete plinth it is bolted to takes up a minimum of ground area extending out from the foot of tower. These factors are important for PARABOLA. Note the instrument booms. There three platforms including the one at the top, and a central ladder. Fun climbing (NOT!), and it sways in the wind (GULP!).
View From the Top
Niall looks down upon his radiometric instruments. Left to right: InfraRed pyranometer, VisNIR Pyranometer, VisNIR albedometer. The albedometer has a clear dome on the bottom of it as well. The ratio of the upwelling radiation hemispheric field to the downwelling yields broad-band albedo, typically a value between 0 and 1. Terra instruments estimate this quantity, and every time Terra flies over this site, a comparison will be made. Niall looks down upon his radiometric instruments. Left to right: InfraRed pyranometer, VisNIR Pyranometer, VisNIR albedometer. The albedometer has a clear dome on the bottom of it as well. The ratio of the upwelling radiation hemispheric field to the downwelling yields broad-band albedo, typically a value between 0 and 1. Terra instruments estimate this quantity, and every time Terra flies over this site, a comparison will be made.
A Typical View of the Countryside
This view is like any other from the top of the tower. This site was chosen for the tower for just that reason. Terra instruments see large plots of land. Ground measurements, which must be made in smaller areas, are carefully chosen to represent the larger area visible from space. This view is like any other from the top of the tower. This site was chosen for the tower for just that reason. Terra instruments see large plots of land. Ground measurements, which must be made in smaller areas, are carefully chosen to represent the larger area visible from space.
Look Out Below!
Phil, Tim, and Bob crane their necks to say "cheese!". This view is also typical of the area immediate to the bottom of the tower. Phil, Tim, and Bob crane their necks to say 'cheese!'. This view is also typical of the area immediate to the bottom of the tower.
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