ARCHIVED PAGE (20 Mar 2008).

This page was used during the experiment.

Now current is the Data Analysis page.

Get High-Resolution Rasterized Logo (right-click and save as) 

Get Vector-Graphics Logo (right-click and save as)

Questions about this document and AMAZE planning can be sent to scot_martin@harvard.edu. 

Logistics Related Spreadsheets

Outbound Bus #1   Inbound Bus #1   Outbound Bus #2    Inbound Bus #2

Note that lists of reserved names are printed for the drivers at about 16:00 the day before so you need to update the spreadsheet before then. 

AMAZE websites

1. Regional model predictions of gases and PM as well as back trajectories for each day of experiment.

The numerical products are 48-hours forecast of atmospheric fields, carbon monoxide from biomass burning/anthropogenic sources, and PM2.5 from biomass burning. The products are generated by CATT-BRAMS model. Also included are 48 hours backward trajectories arriving around the site and at 7 vertical levels (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 5 km above terrain). There is a link to near real time GOES 10 images and products.

Contact: Saulo R. Freitas, sfreitas@cptec.inpe.br.

2. TERRA and AQUA aerosol optical properties and cloud coverage over research site

Shown are the MODIS/Terra and MODIS/Aqua level 1 radiance data and level 2 aerosol/cloud products over a 6 by 6 degree^2 area centered over the AMAZE research site (denoted as the pink circle in the image) since 10 Jan 2008. The visible image is at 500 m resolution. Aerosol optical depth, cloud optical depth, cloud effective radius, and cloud water path are retrieved at the spatial resolution  of 10 km, 1km, 1km, and 1km, respectively.

Contact: Jun Wang, jwang7@unl.edu.

3. LIDAR observations.

All data are preliminary. You will find the last measurements and a archive. Five different plots show the temporal evolution of the range-corrected signal (arbitrary units) at 355, 532 and 1064 nm. The 355-depol plot shows the ratio of the depolarization signal and the total signal at 355 nm. In the four above mentioned plots the temporal and spatial resolution is 30 sec and 30 m, respectively. The 532-analog plot shows the range-corrected signal at 532 nm, but with a temporal and spatial resolution of 10 sec and 7.5 m, respectively. Measurements taken before January 2008 were performed in Leipzig, while the current location of the lidar is at the Silvicultura Site near Manaus, Brazil.

Contact: Dietrich Althausen, dietrich@tropos.de.

4. Blog for the general public about experiences during the campaign. 

Anecdotes, chronicles, descriptions and narratives about what happens and what's being done during the campaign. Written in colloquial language so people not involved in the field can read it and understand it.

Contact: Michel Flores, mflores@mpch-mainz.mpg.de.

Layout of TT34 site (Google Earth)

paved road (50 km), dirt road (34 km), trail (25 m) (May 15, 2007).

Site access along the dirt road requires a 4x4 vehicle.

 Container following infrastructure upgrade (Jan 19, 2008).

 something else interesting (Feb 3, 2008)  again, something else interesting: churrasco (Feb 10, 2008)

photo 1, photo 2, photo 3 (May 15, 2007)

Visas & Police Registration.

Step 1. Outside of Brazil (a) You will need a VITEM-1 visa. It can take some time to process these visas, so you should start at a minimum of one month in advance. Example of instructions: http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/vitem1.htm. Be sure to check your local consulate/embassy for instructions there. (b) You will need a letter of invitation from Paulo Artaxo. He will need your full name and passport number. You can also contact Scot Martin (Paulo has made a template of the letter available). (c) Anyone who needs a visa should be on the "list of participants" (see next item below).

Step 2. Once you arrive in Brazil, you must register with the police within 30 days. Erika Schloemp (edulba@inpa.gov.br) in the LBA office in Manaus can provide further details and guidance. In brief, you will need the paperwork returned to you at the Brazilian consulate when you got your visa, two photos (3 by 4 cm), forms completed on the internet (GRU-FUNAPROL) and paid in advance at bank for a little under R$200, and copies of your passport and the pages showing your visa as well as your entry date to Brazil. You then go to the federal police in Manaus early in the morning and wait for a few hours until you get fingerprinted and leave with a "protocolo" document; you cannot enter the federal police in shorts and and/or a t-shirt. You should carry copies of your passport and of the protocolo with you at all times. Erika can provide the latest guidelines on all items. Juliane Kayse is arranging trips to the Federal Police every 14 days.

FAQ: Do I need to register with police if I will be in Brazil for less than 30 days? Yes. But, you do not need to get an identity card, so you will pay only about R$70. 

When you enter Brazil, you will need to complete a customs form. This will be distributed to you on the airplane. Here is an example. If you are bringing equipment in a suitcase, you should have a letter of explanation from Paulo Artaxo. State "nothing to declare" and proceed to green line. Show the letter if you are inspected.

In addition to the customs form, you will also have to complete a entry/exit form for your visa. Nothing extraordinary about this and I do not have an example. Just save the paperwork for when you go to the federal police to register.

Step 3. When you exit Brazil, if you plan to come back into Brazil again during the duration of your VITEM-1, you are supposed to complete a *fresh* exit/entry form. This is an easy thing to do but somewhat complicated to write down here. Just ask me about it and I'll explain. 

Hotel recommendations in Manaus.

The recommendation is Saint Paul. Besides giving all scientists a common point of reference as basecamp to help in all logistics, Saint Paul (http://www.manaushoteis.tur.br/) is in the center of the city so that you can get to stores and restaurants on foot. Vehicle is only desirable for getting out of center of city. You have air conditioning, free wireless internet (slow! 5-10 kb/s), and free breakfast. Internet access is slightly improved if you take your computer to ground level in lobby area. You make arrangements with Luciana (email: amazon@viverde.com.br, www.amazonastravel.com.br, www.viverde.com.br/home.html, Phone: +55 92 3248-9988 / Fax: +55 92 3639-5404, Mobile: +55 92 9996-1832). Single rates of R$135, double of R$155, and triple of R$180. Be sure to mention "AMAZE scientific expedition" when you make contact with Luciana. Be very specific about all names, rooming requests, and dates of arrival.

If you want to opt out of the recommendation for Saint Paul, there are four modern hotels in Manaus. Best rates are via the internet (about R$200/night for single; get a somewhat better rate for weekly and monthly stays, e.g., R$142/night for single at Sleep Inn on monthly rate). These hotels are best enjoyed if you rent a car because there is not much nearby by foot, except for Sleep Inn which is by a shopping center ("Studio 5").

Sleep Inn.

Comfort Hotel Manaus. (55) (92) 2123-8999.

Hotel Mercure.

Novotel.

Vehicle rental in Manaus.

Car rental is cheaper on weekly and monthly rates. Examples: I got R$479 from Hertz as a weekly rate on the internet for a no thrills small vehicle (stick shift, no air conditioning). The same vehicle was available at Hertz for R$1608 as a monthly rate. UPDATE: Jan 2008, Hertz Manaus no longer appears on Hertz website although the office is still there at the airport. Avis has both a web presence and a physical presence (I rented a vehicle for R$1400 for a month, though without insurance since I am covered by Harvard---insurance is +R$600]). Airport code: MAO.

Driver's license: you should have a document of some sort written in Portuguese that indicates that you are licensed to drive in Brazil. Regardless of what you are told by a consulate or an embassy that you are fine with your license (probably that is true by law!), the local police may have a different opinion and could hassle you. Example: We were pulled over and asked for a document in Portuguese that says we are allowed to drive in Brazil. Fortunately, we had such a document. (I have been told there is a place in Manaus where you can get the necessary driving document issued in Portuguese, although I do not have more information than this.)

4x4 rental. We found a local place that gives R$200 per day for a very nice vehicle. Parceria Locadora. Ask me about this if you're interested. (For comparison, LeMans rents the same vehicle at R$400 per day.) This vendor also rents normal vehicles at rates lower than Avis and Hertz.

1. Bring your own linens or plan to purchase in Manaus (e.g., at Carrefour) for sleeping at research site. There are twin beds and hammocks.

2. Download any important files from internet before you travel. You will probably not find an internet access point above 20 kb/s on a good day and 5 kb/s on other days. [If you do find a good internet access point, please share!]

3. Print any important files before travel. Although access to a printer is reliable at INPA and at the hotels, it is not always convenient. 

4. Diarrhea medication (i.e., antibiotics).

5. Flashlight to see at night.

6. Rubber boots. Be prepared for 15 cm of mud.

7. An excellent rain parka.

8. Tetanus and yellow fever vaccinations.

9. Shorts and t-shirts are fine during day but at times there are mosquito hours. You want to have long pants and a long sleeve shirt available.

10. Bring your own towel and toiletries.

Miscellany.

1. AT&T access number in Brazil: 0800 890 0288 (American Airlines can then be reached by 800 433 7300; American Advantage can then be reached by 800 882 8880).

2. All computer clocks must be synchronized daily to the GPS clock in the container. All clocks and data (including logbook in container) must be on GMT (+4 hrs from local time). Brazil (_except for Manaus_) changes time by one hour on evening of Saturday, February 16. Clocks are rolled back to one hour earlier.

3. Getting a taxi at INPA. Call 3611 1000. Indicate location as: "campus 2 of INPA at the LBA building". Taxi will come to building in about 5 min.

4. Many credit cards from Europe and USA get rejected in Brazil when you try to use them. You then have to call and explain you are in Brazil. Tip: before travel, call and inform your credit card company that you will be in Brazil. The computer algorithms then take this into account when deciding whether or not to accept charges.

5. Container-Use Guidelines: Have one set of muddy boots and one set of clean tennis shoes/flip flops. When entering container, switch foot gear.

6. Data Sharing Policy: AMAZE is an LBA-approved experiment. AMAZE participants agree to follow the LBA data sharing and publication policy as well as the fair use policy for LBA data. All data must be deposited in Brazil by law. Paulo Artaxo maintains an ftp server for this purpose. 

7. EUCAARI  and AMAZE share the same facilities. 

8. Door size on the container is 0.78 m wide and 2.06 m tall.

9. Customs and "temporary importation" of scientific instrumentation: Many of you have a lot of experience with Brazil, so you know what to do and you know that the process is far from trivial. Example: For my instrument, we will begin the paperwork on June 1 and plan to ship on October 1. That should get it to Manaus by December 1 for installation prior to AMAZE. Most instruments should plan to be fully installed prior to Christmas. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT SHIPPING ITEMS TO BRAZIL, YOU SHOULD CONTACT ROBERTA DE SOUZA (robertap@inpa.gov.br), WHO CAN ASSIST AND COORDINATE. INCLUDE A CC: TO ME, AND I WILL PROVIDE WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I NOW KNOW.

10. Health. You should talk with your health provider's travel clinic about possible needs. You definitely need yellow fever vaccination (outbreak this year in Brazil), and you must get this vaccination 10 days in advance. You should bring with you a yellow card showing the vaccination because at times and without notice the airports in Brazil institute this yellow card as an entry requirement. Medication for traveller's diarrhea is also recommended.

11. The 60 kVA generator is shut down for maintenance every Tuesday from 14:00 to 14:30.

http://br.weather.com/

http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/SA/Temperature.html

http://www.cptec.inpe.br/tempo/ 

http://www.cptec.inpe.br/tempo/sintese_sinotica.shtml 

http://www.cptec.inpe.br/bol_tecnico/

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/ametus.html 

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ss/transport/archives.html

Email archive.

January 11, 2008  image 1   image 2   image 3

December 8, 2007

October 16, 2007

August 4, 2007

May 24, 2007

April 4, 2007

February 19, 2007

January 28, 2007

January 26, 2007 - Agenda of planning meeting at MPI, Mainz

old preliminary schedule (removed 16 Oct 2007)