Gérard Moss
Encyclopedia
Gérard Moss is a Swiss-Brazilian
pilot, engineer, public speaker, environmentalist and explorer born in England
. As a pilot, Gerard is known for being the first person to complete a solo flight on a monoplane
around the world. Gérard and his wife Margi Moss are Naturalized citizens of Brazil and the only South Americans considered Earthrounders
.
As an environmentalist, Gerard and his wife have started many projects to prevent deforestation
in Brazil and evaluate the quality of its water and air. After living in Rio de Janeiro
for 25 years, the couple has moved to Brasília
in 2006 to be closer to the Amazon Rainforest
and begin the Flying Rivers project.
in Chile, then the extreme West on Cape Prince of Wales
, Alaska followed by Zenith Point
in Canada and finally Ponta dos Seixas back in Brazil. His expedition was covered by Rede Globo
on Fantástico
.
and deforestation. His concerns grew into projects that aimed at conservation of Brazilian natural resources. His projects evaluated the quality of the air and the water in Brazil. In 2003 he started a project to analyze the waters of Brazilian Drainage basin
s and later started the Flying rivers project.
on TV Globo and his projects have been covered by TV Câmara, National Geographic, Estadão, and several newspapers, magazines and websites, both Brazilian and foreign.
being caused by the deforestation of the Amazon Forest. The project consists in acquiring water from the air to evaluate its origin and flow from the Amazon River to the south of the Americas. The project is part of a larger project called "Brasil das Águas" (Brazil of the waters). According to Moss, the water flow carried by these flying rivers could equal that of the Amazon River
itself since each tree can be responsible for 300 liters of atmospheric water per day. Between 2006 and 2007, seven Brazilian rivers were being the target of the studies (Araguaia, Grande, Ribeira, Miranda, Ibicuí
, Verde and Guaporé
). In 2007, after collecting the samples, they started to compare them with the water vapors from the air. With the support of University of São Paulo
and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, they arrived to the conclusion that much of the water vapor comes from Amazonian rivers, creating what they called "Flying rivers".
Swiss Brazilian
Swiss Brazilian is a Brazilian citizen of full or partial Swiss ancestry, who remains culturally connected to Switzerland, or a Swiss-born person permanently residing in Brazil....
pilot, engineer, public speaker, environmentalist and explorer born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As a pilot, Gerard is known for being the first person to complete a solo flight on a monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
around the world. Gérard and his wife Margi Moss are Naturalized citizens of Brazil and the only South Americans considered Earthrounders
Earthrounders
Earthrounders is the name of a group that recognizes and supports people in their trips traveling around the world. They offer help to people through all aspects of their flight and have come to be a great resource to the aviation community...
.
As an environmentalist, Gerard and his wife have started many projects to prevent deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
in Brazil and evaluate the quality of its water and air. After living in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
for 25 years, the couple has moved to Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
in 2006 to be closer to the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
and begin the Flying Rivers project.
Early life and Expeditions
The life of Gerard as an explorer started early. After getting his first passport at age 4, he would fly to England and Switzerland to visit his parents. In 1983, after graduating as a mechanical engineer, Gerard acquired his pilot license in California and arrived in Brazil, where he set up a maritime freight business to transport soybeans. In 1989, he completed his first round the world flight along with Margi, whom he med in Búzios in 1985.Four Corners of the Americas
In 1997 he flew to the four corners of the American continent. Starting in Rio de Janeiro, he reached the extreme south to Cape FrowardCape Froward
Cape Froward is the southernmost point on the mainland of South America. It is located in the North shores of Magellan Strait, being the southern tip of the Brunswick Peninsula; in Chilean territory....
in Chile, then the extreme West on Cape Prince of Wales
Cape Prince of Wales
Cape Prince of Wales is the westernmost point on the mainland of the Americas.Located on the Seward Peninsula of the U.S. state of Alaska near the city of Wales, Cape Prince of Wales is the terminus of the Continental Divide, marking the division between the Pacific and Arctic coasts, as well as...
, Alaska followed by Zenith Point
Murchison Promontory
Murchison Promontory is a peninsula in northern Canada that is the northernmost point on mainland Canada and on the mainland of North America; it is also one of the Extreme points of Earth....
in Canada and finally Ponta dos Seixas back in Brazil. His expedition was covered by Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
on Fantástico
Fantástico
Fantástico is a Brazilian weekly television newsmagazine broadcast on Sundays by Rede Globo.-Format:The show's first episode was on August 5, 1973 in black-and-white. It began as a variety show featuring music, dance numbers, teletheater, humor, mixed with a small amount of news. The following...
.
First monoplane flight around the world
In 2001 he completed the first solo flight around the world on a monoplane using the Ximango manufactured in Brazil. The aircraft has a near-handcrafted production and proved to be very efficient. The journey was planned to be completed in 100 days His expedition was once again covered by Fantástico, a work that resulted in the book Asas do Vento.Environmantal Projects
With the aid of his private flight experience, Moss was able to witness firsthand the effects of Global warmingGlobal warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
and deforestation. His concerns grew into projects that aimed at conservation of Brazilian natural resources. His projects evaluated the quality of the air and the water in Brazil. In 2003 he started a project to analyze the waters of Brazilian Drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
s and later started the Flying rivers project.
Media relations
Gerard's expeditions have been covered by FantásticoFantástico
Fantástico is a Brazilian weekly television newsmagazine broadcast on Sundays by Rede Globo.-Format:The show's first episode was on August 5, 1973 in black-and-white. It began as a variety show featuring music, dance numbers, teletheater, humor, mixed with a small amount of news. The following...
on TV Globo and his projects have been covered by TV Câmara, National Geographic, Estadão, and several newspapers, magazines and websites, both Brazilian and foreign.
Flying Rivers
Gérard and Margi have started a research project to evaluate the water flow from clouds and the possibility of droughtDrought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
being caused by the deforestation of the Amazon Forest. The project consists in acquiring water from the air to evaluate its origin and flow from the Amazon River to the south of the Americas. The project is part of a larger project called "Brasil das Águas" (Brazil of the waters). According to Moss, the water flow carried by these flying rivers could equal that of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
itself since each tree can be responsible for 300 liters of atmospheric water per day. Between 2006 and 2007, seven Brazilian rivers were being the target of the studies (Araguaia, Grande, Ribeira, Miranda, Ibicuí
Ibicuí
Ibicuí is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
, Verde and Guaporé
Guaporé River
Rio Guaporé is the name of a river in western Brazil along the Bolivian border. Its Bolivian name is Río Iténez.The river has its source in the Brazilian Mato Grosso circa 150 km northeast of Pontes e Lacerda. From this town on it flows in a westerly direction for about 120 km, where at...
). In 2007, after collecting the samples, they started to compare them with the water vapors from the air. With the support of University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, they arrived to the conclusion that much of the water vapor comes from Amazonian rivers, creating what they called "Flying rivers".
Publications
Gerard and Margi have published several books reporting their experiences:- Asas Do Vento : A Primeira Volta Ao Mundo Num Motoplanador (ISBN 8501065552)
- Volta Por Cima (ISBN 8501055794)
- Freedom of the Skies (ISBN 1853109061)
- Loucos por ti, América (ISBN 8501055255)
- Extremos das Américas