Balloon Attempt: WARNING WAS ISSUED

Added: (Fri Aug 17 2001)

Pressbox (Press Release) - A British Scientist, Piers Corbyn, issued a Special Weather Warning to round the world solo balloonist, Steve Fossett, alerting him that the period 16 -19 August 2001 was expected to be a high risk period during the Fossett record breaking world circumvention attempt. The latest news is that Fossett is now set to land due to bad weather conditions. Fossetts web site is www.solospirit.wustl.edu/ The text of the message (sent by e.mail to both Steve Fossett's Mission Control and Meteorological Teams) read:

" HIGH RISK 16 - 19 August 2001
I have been asked to contact you by Piers Corbyn from the South Bank University Technopark, London, UK. Piers Corbyn undertakes research into the affects of Solar Activity on the atmosphere and terrestrial weather systems. The models he has developed suggest a high risk of increased upper air turbulance and thunderstorms during the period 16 - 19 August 01 (forecasts usually accurate to +/- 1 day). A review of some aspects of Corbyn's work was undertaken by Dr Dennis Wheeler earlier this year in 'The Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 63 (2001) 29 -34'. I hope this information may be of some use to you. Please contact if you wish to discuss further".

The predictive techniques that Piers Corbyn uses to prepare his long-range weather forecasts identified the danger period 12 months ago but the mail was sent to Fossett some 10 days ago.
Contacts: Piers Corbyn Mbl 07710 432 320; Landline 01672 851 027 or Melvyn Wallis Tel 01342 32 42 32, Mbl 07770 503 258