Aweather balloon,also known as asounding balloon,is aballoon(specifically a type ofhigh-altitude balloon) that carries instruments to the stratosphere to send back information onatmospheric pressure,temperature,humidityandwind speedby means of a small, expendable measuring device called aradiosonde.To obtainwinddata, they can be tracked byradar,radiodirection finding,or navigation systems (such as the satellite-basedGlobal Positioning System,GPS). Balloons meant to stay at a constant altitude for long periods of time are known astransosondes.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, atheodoliteortotal stationis used to track the balloon'sazimuthand elevation, which are then converted to estimated wind speed and direction and/or cloud height, as applicable.
Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters andcomputer modelsforweather forecasting.Between 900 and 1,300 locations around the globe do routine releases, two or four times daily.[1][2][3][4]
History
editOne of the first people to use weather balloons was the French meteorologistLéon Teisserenc de Bort.Starting in 1896 he launched hundreds of weather balloons from his observatory inTrappes,France. These experiments led to his discovery of thetropopauseandstratosphere.[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] Thedronetechnology boom has led to the development ofweather dronessince 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 thelift,and is usually made of a highly flexiblelatexmaterial, thoughchloroprenemay also be used. The unit that performs the actual measurements andradio transmissionshangs at the lower end of the string, and is called aradiosonde.Specialized radiosondes are used for measuring particular parameters, such as determining theozoneconcentration.
The balloon is usually filled withhydrogen,thoughhelium– 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, usually at around 300 metres per minute (980 ft/min).[9]: 24–54 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,[10]although a parachute may be employed to help in allowing retrieval of the instrument. Above that altitudesounding rocketsare used to carry instruments aloft, and for even higher altitudes satellites are used.
Launch time, location, and uses
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Weather balloons are launched around the world for observations used to diagnose current conditions as well as by human forecasters andcomputer modelsforweather forecasting.Between 900 and 1,300 locations around the globe do routine releases, two or four times daily, usually at 0000UTCand 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 theNational Weather Servicein 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 includepilot balloons(Pibal). Field research programs often use mobile launchers from land vehicles as well as ships and aircraft (usuallydropsondesin this case). In recent years, weather balloons have also been used for scattering human ashes at high altitudes. The weather balloon was also used to create the fictional entity 'Rover' during the production of the 1960s TV seriesThe Prisonerin Portmeirion, Gwynedd, North Wales, UK in September 1966. This was retained in further scenes shot at MGM Borehamwood UK during 1966–67.[11]
Environmental issues
editWhile weather forecasting is increasingly reliant on satellites and radar technology, it still heavily involves the use of weather balloons. These devices, launched from thousands of stations worldwide, ascend into the atmosphere to collect meteorological data. The United States, for example, releases approximately 76,600 balloons annually, while Canada launches 22,000.[12]
Weather balloons, after reaching an altitude of approximately 35 kilometers, burst, releasing their instruments and the latex material they are made of. While the instruments are often recovered, the latex remains in the environment, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Studies have shown that a substantial portion of weather balloons eventually end up in the ocean. For instance, one Australian researcher collected over 2,460 weather balloon debris from theGreat Barrier Reef,estimating that up to 300 balloons per week may be released into the marine environment. This environmental impact underscores the need for sustainable alternatives in weather data collection.[12]
Scientists and environmentalists have raised concerns about weather balloons' environmental impact. The latex material, which can persist in the ocean for extended periods, can harm marine life, includingsea turtles,birds, and fish. Efforts to minimize the environmental impact of weather balloons include developing biodegradable materials and improved recovery methods. However, the continued reliance on weather balloons for meteorological data challenges balancing the need for accurate weather forecasts with environmental sustainability.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"NWS factsheet".Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2016.
- ^ab"Weather Facts: Radiosonde | weatheronline.co.uk".www.weatheronline.co.uk.Retrieved6 April2023.
- ^ab"Observations - Data - Modelling".public.wmo.int.1 December 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 18 December 2023.Retrieved6 April2023.
- ^abWeatherSTEM."Upper-Air Observations".WeatherSTEM.Retrieved6 April2023.
- ^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922)..Encyclopædia Britannica(12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
- ^Staff (February 1958)."Chief Special Projects Section: Dr. Lester Machta"(PDF).United States Weather Bureau.pp.39–41. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 March 2017.Retrieved21 April2012.
- ^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.ISSN0003-0007.
- ^"Drones May Replace Weather Balloons Soon".www.outlookindia.com/.8 June 2022.Retrieved7 November2022.
- ^"FAA-H-8083-28A, Aviation Weather Handbook".Federal Aviation Administration.Retrieved27 December2024.
- ^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.
- ^abcMagazine, Hakai (11 October 2024)."Weather Forecasting Is Deadly for Marine Wildlife".Hakai Magazine.Retrieved14 October2024.
External links
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- Atmospheric Soundings for Canada and the United States– University of Wyoming
- Balloon Lift With Lighter Than Air GasesArchived24 February 2014 at theWayback 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)