SouthTRAC – Chasing Stratospheric Waves for Climate Science

The Mission (September & November 2019)

„For me as a glider pilot, SouthTRAC was the ultimate proof of what tactical soaring can contribute to modern climate science. In September and November 2019, we set out to Argentina and the skies over Antarctica to serve as the ‚flying eyes‘ for an international team of atmospheric researchers.“

— Klaus Ohlmann

Klaus’ Perspective: Riding the Atmospheric Giants

• The Scientific Breakthrough

  During the SouthTRAC campaign, we utilized the monumental mountain waves of the Southern Andes to lift our atmospheric measurement instruments directly into the upper troposphere and stratosphere. By flying precisely along these invisible gravity waves, we enabled scientists to collect groundbreaking data on global climate dynamics and ozone layer transport that satellites simply cannot capture with the same detail.

• Conquering the Antarctic Sub-Polar Skies

  Flying long-endurance measurement routes over the turbulent Southern Ocean towards Antarctica was a true masterclass in flight planning and boundary-pushing aviation. Operating under the most unforgiving sub-polar climate conditions on Earth, every flight profile tested the absolute limits of human endurance and aerodynamic precision.

• Pioneering Clean High-Altitude Aviation

  SouthTRAC wasn’t just about understanding the atmosphere; it was about proving how we can explore it cleanly. By masterfully decoding and harnessing the massive vertical air currents of the Andes, we demonstrated that advanced soaring tactics are a highly efficient, low-emission tool for future scientific high-altitude research.

Mission Profile & Facts