07 January 2005

More Science in Brazil

Part 1. Returning to the Amazon Basin

Forrest M. Mims III

Editor’s Note: The author's research for NASA in Brazil’s Amazon basin in 1995 was described in three previous columns (see Part 1, 2 and 3). This is the first of a series about expanded research in Brazil during 1997.

In 1995 an international group of scientists assembled in Brazil. Their purpose was to measure the effects on the atmosphere of the smoke that smothers much of Brazil during the annual burning season. Some NASA scientists knew about the miniature instruments I developed to measure the ozone layer. Since NASA’s ozone satellite had stopped working, they asked me to accompany the expedition to make measurements of the ozone layer and solar ultraviolet radiation.

Back then I had no idea that some of my findings would lead to a second and much more important trip to Brazil. The key finding in 1995 was that smoke over large areas of Brazil was so thick that the sun’s ultraviolet was nearly blocked. That might seem good, since excessive UV can lead to skin cancer. But UV has many important roles in the environment. It even kills bacteria and viruses floating in the air. There is an increase in respiratory disease in Brazil during burning season. Could this be because of increased numbers of bacteria that smoke was allowing to survive?

The NASA scientists were intrigued by this idea. When they asked me to return to Brazil in 1997 to make more ozone and UV measurements, I decided to take along a carton of 60 sterile nutrient media films to survey the bacteria in the air.

The 1995 trip to Brazil would have been impossible without the help of Damian Kilday, a student at Colorado Christian University. So the first task for the 1997 trip was to find someone who could take Damian’s place. Brad White volunteered for the assignment. Brad had just completed high school, and he was perfect for the job.

Preparing for the trip required considerable time. First I wrote Dr. Paulo Artaxo, a prominent scientist at the University of Sao Paulo, to ask permission to do research in Brazil. Dr. Artaxo agreed to send an invitation. Next came a month of preparations. Instruments had to be built, tested and calibrated. Visas had to be secured. Brad had to get a passport and an armful of shots.

Finally the big day came. On a warm August afternoon we lifted off from the San Antonio International Airport on the first leg of our long journey to the Amazon basin. After we arrived in Atlanta, we watched through a big window as the baggage was unloaded. Suddenly I spotted one of my instrument bags being tossed at least 15 feet onto the concrete. The gate attendants must have been actors working their day jobs. When I told them about the flying baggage, they feigned shock and outrage. In all their years working by that huge window, they claimed they had never seen baggage handlers toss baggage onto the ramp. They pretended not to notice as still more bags came sailing through the warm Atlanta air to land atop mine.

After a few hours of delay due to mechanical problems, the big plane finally took off for Brazil. Hours later when we crossed the Amazon, most of the passengers were asleep. But I couldn’t sleep. My eyes were glued to the window watching slithering snakes of orange far below the plane. Soon Brad and I would be breathing and measuring the smoke from countless fires like these.

Getting through customs with all our gear came to mind when we arrived at Sao Paulo. Most of the instruments I build worry security and customs people, especially in foreign countries like Switzerland, Brazil and New York City. So I made sure that Dr. Artaxo’s letter was within easy reach as we left the plane.

On my first trip to Brazil, we avoided the inspectors when two Brazilian businessmen cut in line in front of us. This must have looked suspicious to the customs people. They stopped the two interlopers and waved us through. This time Brad and I had even better results. Since our plane was late, the customs people were not expecting us. We glided through customs without even seeing an inspector.

Since the late arrival caused us to miss our connecting flight, we spent most of the day at the Sao Paulo airport waiting for a new connection. This gave us time to change our money. While Brad watched the bags, I walked up to a lady behind a bullet-proof window and placed $500 in $20 bills in the tray. She counted the money and announced, “$400 dollars.” I paused and firmly said, “No, $500.” The lady began counting again. While I pretended to look away, her right hand disappeared under the counter and miraculously reappeared with the five $20 bills she had hidden there. With a straight face, she then announced, “$500.”

Soon Brad and I were again airborne on our journey to Alta Floresta deep in the smoke-covered wilderness of the remote southern Amazon basin. Our adventures in Brazil had only just begun.

Forrest M. Mims III and his science are featured online at
www.forrestmims.org.

This feature was originally published in Forrest Mims's weekly science column in the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, Seguin, Texas. The column is written for a general audience.