Weather Balloons
It has been more than seventy years since the very first experimental weather
balloon was sent up (Hopper, 2011). Weather balloons are what keep people on the ground tuned in to the meteorological workings of the upper atmosphere (Hopper, 2011). The first
weather balloon was invented in 1783 by Jean-François
de Rozier and the Marquis d'Aalandes. Pioneering
balloonists would risk their lives, ascending thousands of feet above ground
where the air is dangerously thin and cold (Engelbert, 1997, p.
409).
balloon was sent up (Hopper, 2011). Weather balloons are what keep people on the ground tuned in to the meteorological workings of the upper atmosphere (Hopper, 2011). The first
weather balloon was invented in 1783 by Jean-François
de Rozier and the Marquis d'Aalandes. Pioneering
balloonists would risk their lives, ascending thousands of feet above ground
where the air is dangerously thin and cold (Engelbert, 1997, p.
409).
The Radiosnode
The basic component of the weather balloon is the radiosnode which is a shoebox-sized cardboard box packed with three basic atmospheric instruments (Hopper, 2011). The instruments in the radiosnode
measure temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity as they ascend to a
maximum of twenty miles above the ground (Engelbert, 1997, p. 409).The first
instrument in the radiosnode is the thermistor. This is a ceramic-covered metal
rod that acts as a rudimentary thermometer (Hopper, 2011). Radiosnodes are
equipped with radio transmitters that continuously relay measurements to
stations on the ground (Englebert, 1997, p. 409). There are around one thousand
radiosnode stations that have been established worldwide, and there are
approximately one hundred twenty five of them in the United States (Englebert,
1997, p. 409).
The second instrument is the
Hygristor, a small slide that acts as a humidity sensor (Hopper, 2011). This slide is coated with
film of lithium chloride (LiCl), the electrical resistance of which changes
based on the surrounding humidity (Hopper, 2011). Lastly is the aneroid
barometer. This is a small metal canister filled with air which measures the air
pressure (Hopper, 2011). As the air pressure around it decreases at higher
altitudes, the canister expands, which then triggers a sensor (Hopper,
2011).
measure temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity as they ascend to a
maximum of twenty miles above the ground (Engelbert, 1997, p. 409).The first
instrument in the radiosnode is the thermistor. This is a ceramic-covered metal
rod that acts as a rudimentary thermometer (Hopper, 2011). Radiosnodes are
equipped with radio transmitters that continuously relay measurements to
stations on the ground (Englebert, 1997, p. 409). There are around one thousand
radiosnode stations that have been established worldwide, and there are
approximately one hundred twenty five of them in the United States (Englebert,
1997, p. 409).
The second instrument is the
Hygristor, a small slide that acts as a humidity sensor (Hopper, 2011). This slide is coated with
film of lithium chloride (LiCl), the electrical resistance of which changes
based on the surrounding humidity (Hopper, 2011). Lastly is the aneroid
barometer. This is a small metal canister filled with air which measures the air
pressure (Hopper, 2011). As the air pressure around it decreases at higher
altitudes, the canister expands, which then triggers a sensor (Hopper,
2011).