Accuracy of analyzed stratospheric temperatures in the winter Arctic vortex from infrared Montgolfier long-duration balloon flights 1. Measurements

Long series of temperature measurements in the winter Arctic stratosphere have been obtained from infrared Montgolfier (MIR) long-duration balloon flights in 1997, 1999 and 2000, from which the performances of a series of meteorological analysis have been investigated. In this first paper of a series of two, the experimental setup and the measurements are described.