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Latin Times
Latin Times
National
Clara Espinoza

Bolivian Scientists Send Balloons 30 Km Into the Sky to Track Greenhouse Gases Over the Andes

A meteorologist launches a weather balloon from a monitoring station in Switzerland to collect atmospheric measurements. This technology helps scientists gather information about atmospheric conditions and supports meteorological and climate research. (Credit: Photo by Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images.)
The Briefing:
  • Researchers from UMSA's Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics launched stratospheric balloons to 30 kilometers above the Oruro Altiplano in a 12-day campaign beginning October 6, 2026, capturing a continuous vertical profile of greenhouse gases from near-stratospheric heights to ground level.
  • Each balloon released an AirCore — a long coiled stainless-steel tube — that passively collects air samples at every altitude during parachute descent, measuring concentrations of CO₂, methane, and carbon monoxide across the full atmospheric column.
  • Led by Bolivian doctoral researcher Laura Ticona in partnership with France's LSCE, this was the third time the campaign has been held south of Oruro, reinforcing Bolivia's role as a strategic site for global atmospheric science.
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