"Sounding balloon" redirects here. Not to be confused with observation balloon.This article is about atmospheric and meteorological sounding balloons. For balloon space probes, see List of Solar System probes.
A weather balloon, also known as a sounding balloon, is a balloon (specifically a type of high-altitude balloon) that carries instruments to the stratosphere to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed by means of a small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde. To obtain wind data, they can be tracked by radar, radio direction finding, or navigation systems (such as the satellite-based Global Positioning System, GPS). Balloons meant to stay at a constant altitude for long periods of time are known as transosondes. Weather balloons that do not carry an instrument pack are used to determine upper-level winds and the height of cloud layers. For such balloons, a theodolite or total station is used to track the balloon's azimuth and elevation, which are then converted to estimated wind speed and direction and/or cloud height, as applicable.
Transosonde ready for releasePicture taken at approximately 30 km above Oregon using a 1,500 gram weather balloonRawinsonde weather balloon just after launch. Notice a parachute in the center of the string and a small instrument box at the end. After release it measures many parameters. These include temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and wind speed and wind direction. This information is transmitted back to surface observers.
Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters and computer models for weather forecasting. Between 900 and 1,300 locations around the globe do routine releases, two or four times daily.[1][2][3][4]
One of the first people to use weather balloons was Léon Teisserenc de Bort, the French meteorologist. Starting in 1896 he launched hundreds of weather balloons from his observatory in Trappes, France. These experiments led to his discovery of the tropopause and stratosphere.[5] Transosondes, weather balloons with instrumentation meant to stay at a constant altitude for long periods of time to help diagnose radioactive debris from atomic fallout, were experimented with in 1958.[6] The drone technology boom has led to the development of weather drones since the late 1990s.[7] These may begin to replace balloons as a more specific means for carrying radiosondes.[8]
Materials and equipmentedit
The balloon itself produces the lift, and is usually made of a highly flexible latex material, though chloroprene may also be used. The unit that performs the actual measurements and radio transmissions hangs at the lower end of the string, and is called a radiosonde. Specialized radiosondes are used for measuring particular parameters, such as determining the ozone concentration.
The balloon is usually filled with hydrogen, though helium - a more expensive, but viable option nonetheless - is also frequently used. The ascent rate can be controlled by the amount of gas with which the balloon is filled. Weather balloons may reach altitudes of 40 km (25 mi) or more, limited by diminishing pressures causing the balloon to expand to such a degree (typically by a 100:1 factor) that it disintegrates. In this instance the instrument package is usually lost,[9] although a parachute may be employed to help in allowing retrieval of the instrument. Above that altitude sounding rockets are used to carry instruments aloft, and for even higher altitudes satellites are used.
Launch time, location, and usesedit
A hydrogen filled balloon at Cambridge Bay Upper Air station, Nunavut, CanadaLaunch of wiki payload into stratosphere
Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters and computer models for weather forecasting. Between 900 and 1,300 locations around the globe do routine releases, two or four times daily, usually at 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC.[1][2][3][4] Some facilities will also do occasional supplementary special releases when meteorologists determine there is a need for additional data between the 12-hour routine launches in which time much can change in the atmosphere. Military and civilian government meteorological agencies such as the National Weather Service in the US typically launch balloons, and by international agreements almost all the data are shared with all nations.
Specialized uses also exist, such as for aviation interests, pollution monitoring, photography or videography and research. Examples include pilot balloons (Pibal). Field research programs often use mobile launchers from land vehicles as well as ships and aircraft (usually dropsondes in this case). In recent years weather balloons have also been used for scattering human ashes at high-altitude. The weather balloon was also used to create the fictional entity 'Rover' during production of the 1960s TV series The Prisoner in Portmeirion, Gwynedd, North Wales, UK in September 1966. This was retained in further scenes shot at MGM Borehamwood UK during 1966–67.[10]
^ ab. public.wmo.int. 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^ abWeatherSTEM. "Upper-Air Observations". WeatherSTEM. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Teisserenc de Bort, Léon Philippe" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
^Staff (February 1958). (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. pp. 39–41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
^Holland, G. J.; Webster, P. J.; Curry, J. A.; Tyrell, G.; Gauntlett, D.; Brett, G.; Becker, J.; Hoag, R.; Vaglienti, W. (1 May 2001). "The Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft: A New Paradigm for Environmental Observations". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 82 (5): 889–902. Bibcode:2001BAMS...82..889H. doi:10.1175/1520-0477(2001)082<0889:TARAAN>2.3.CO;2. ISSN 0003-0007.
^"Drones May Replace Weather Balloons Soon". www.outlookindia.com/. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^Dabberdt, W F; Shellhorn, R; Cole, H; Paukkunen, A; Horhammer, J; Antikainen, V (2003). "Radiosondes" (PDF). Elsevier Science Direct.
^Paul-Davies, Steven (2002). The Prisoner Handbook. London: Pan Books. ISBN978-0-230-53028-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weather balloon.
Atmospheric Soundings for Canada and the United States – University of Wyoming
Balloon Lift With Lighter Than Air Gases 24 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine – University of Hawaii
Examples of Launches of Instrumented Balloons in Storms – NSSL
– NOAA Photo Library
NASA Balloon Program Office – Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia
– Lesson plan for middle school
Pilot Balloon Observation Theodolites – Martin Brenner, CSULB
StratoCat – Historical recompilation project on the use of stratospheric balloons in the scientific research, the military field and the aerospace activity
WMO spreadsheet of all Upper Air stations around the world (revised location September 2008)
January 01, 1970
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Sounding balloon redirects here Not to be confused with observation balloon This article is about atmospheric and meteorological sounding balloons For balloon space probes see List of Solar System probes A weather balloon also known as a sounding balloon is a balloon specifically a type of high altitude balloon that carries instruments to the stratosphere to send back information on atmospheric pressure temperature humidity and wind speed by means of a small expendable measuring device called a radiosonde To obtain wind data they can be tracked by radar radio direction finding or navigation systems such as the satellite based Global Positioning System GPS Balloons meant to stay at a constant altitude for long periods of time are known as transosondes Weather balloons that do not carry an instrument pack are used to determine upper level winds and the height of cloud layers For such balloons a theodolite or total station is used to track the balloon s azimuth and elevation which are then converted to estimated wind speed and direction and or cloud height as applicable Transosonde ready for release Picture taken at approximately 30 km above Oregon using a 1 500 gram weather balloon Rawinsonde weather balloon just after launch Notice a parachute in the center of the string and a small instrument box at the end After release it measures many parameters These include temperature relative humidity pressure and wind speed and wind direction This information is transmitted back to surface observers Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters and computer models for weather forecasting Between 900 and 1 300 locations around the globe do routine releases two or four times daily 1 2 3 4 Contents 1 History 2 Materials and equipment 3 Launch time location and uses 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editOne of the first people to use weather balloons was Leon Teisserenc de Bort the French meteorologist Starting in 1896 he launched hundreds of weather balloons from his observatory in Trappes France These experiments led to his discovery of the tropopause and stratosphere 5 Transosondes weather balloons with instrumentation meant to stay at a constant altitude for long periods of time to help diagnose radioactive debris from atomic fallout were experimented with in 1958 6 The drone technology boom has led to the development of weather drones since the late 1990s 7 These may begin to replace balloons as a more specific means for carrying radiosondes 8 Materials and equipment editThe balloon itself produces the lift and is usually made of a highly flexible latex material though chloroprene may also be used The unit that performs the actual measurements and radio transmissions hangs at the lower end of the string and is called a radiosonde Specialized radiosondes are used for measuring particular parameters such as determining the ozone concentration The balloon is usually filled with hydrogen though helium a more expensive but viable option nonetheless is also frequently used The ascent rate can be controlled by the amount of gas with which the balloon is filled Weather balloons may reach altitudes of 40 km 25 mi or more limited by diminishing pressures causing the balloon to expand to such a degree typically by a 100 1 factor that it disintegrates In this instance the instrument package is usually lost 9 although a parachute may be employed to help in allowing retrieval of the instrument Above that altitude sounding rockets are used to carry instruments aloft and for even higher altitudes satellites are used Launch time location and uses edit nbsp A hydrogen filled balloon at Cambridge Bay Upper Air station Nunavut Canada source source source source source source source source Launch of wiki payload into stratosphere Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters and computer models for weather forecasting Between 900 and 1 300 locations around the globe do routine releases two or four times daily usually at 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC 1 2 3 4 Some facilities will also do occasional supplementary special releases when meteorologists determine there is a need for additional data between the 12 hour routine launches in which time much can change in the atmosphere Military and civilian government meteorological agencies such as the National Weather Service in the US typically launch balloons and by international agreements almost all the data are shared with all nations Specialized uses also exist such as for aviation interests pollution monitoring photography or videography and research Examples include pilot balloons Pibal Field research programs often use mobile launchers from land vehicles as well as ships and aircraft usually dropsondes in this case In recent years weather balloons have also been used for scattering human ashes at high altitude The weather balloon was also used to create the fictional entity Rover during production of the 1960s TV series The Prisoner in Portmeirion Gwynedd North Wales UK in September 1966 This was retained in further scenes shot at MGM Borehamwood UK during 1966 67 10 See also editAtmospheric sounding Ceiling balloon High altitude balloon SCR 658 radar Skyhook balloon Timeline of hydrogen technologies High altitude platform UFOsReferences edit a b NWS factsheet Archived from the original on 20 February 2016 a b Weather Facts Radiosonde weatheronline co uk www weatheronline co uk Retrieved 6 April 2023 a b Observations Data Modelling public wmo int 1 December 2015 Archived from the original on 18 December 2023 Retrieved 6 April 2023 a b WeatherSTEM Upper Air Observations WeatherSTEM Retrieved 6 April 2023 Chisholm Hugh ed 1922 Teisserenc de Bort Leon Philippe Encyclopaedia Britannica 12th ed London amp New York The Encyclopaedia Britannica Company Staff February 1958 Chief Special Projects Section Dr Lester Machta PDF United States Weather Bureau pp 39 41 Archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2017 Retrieved 21 April 2012 Holland G J Webster P J Curry J A Tyrell G Gauntlett D Brett G Becker J Hoag R Vaglienti W 1 May 2001 The Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft A New Paradigm for Environmental Observations Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 82 5 889 902 Bibcode 2001BAMS 82 889H doi 10 1175 1520 0477 2001 082 lt 0889 TARAAN gt 2 3 CO 2 ISSN 0003 0007 Drones May Replace Weather Balloons Soon www outlookindia com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 7 November 2022 Dabberdt W F Shellhorn R Cole H Paukkunen A Horhammer J Antikainen V 2003 Radiosondes PDF Elsevier Science Direct Paul Davies Steven 2002 The Prisoner Handbook London Pan Books ISBN 978 0 230 53028 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weather balloon Atmospheric Soundings for Canada and the United States University of Wyoming Balloon Lift With Lighter Than Air Gases Archived 24 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine University of Hawaii Examples of Launches of Instrumented Balloons in Storms NSSL Federal Meteorological Handbook No 3 Rawinsonde and Pibal Observations Kites and Balloons NOAA Photo Library NASA Balloon Program Office Wallops Flight Facility Virginia National Science Digital Library Weather Balloons Lesson plan for middle school Pilot Balloon Observation Theodolites Martin Brenner CSULB StratoCat Historical recompilation project on the use of stratospheric balloons in the scientific research the military field and the aerospace activity WMO spreadsheet of all Upper Air stations around the world revised location September 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Weather balloon amp oldid 1215558504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
