Weather Balloons

GS1 – Geography

 

Context:

Due to budget reductions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has significantly reduced the number of weather balloon launches across the United States.

What Are Weather Balloons?

Weather balloons, also called sounding balloons, are large inflatable devices made from materials like latex or synthetic rubber. They are typically filled with helium or hydrogen gas.

These balloons can ascend to altitudes of around 35 km (approximately 115,000 feet) during flights that last up to two hours. They carry instruments called radiosondes, which continuously relay atmospheric information to ground stations.

Radiosondes, which are compact—roughly the size of a coffee mug—measure various atmospheric conditions and transmit data in real-time.

French meteorologist Léon Teisserenc de Bort was among the earliest to utilize these balloons in the late 19th century. Through his pioneering efforts starting in 1896, he discovered important atmospheric layers like the tropopause and stratosphere.

Before the introduction of weather balloons, scientists relied on kites and manned hot air balloons to conduct atmospheric research at high altitudes.

How Do Weather Balloons Function?

As these balloons rise, they collect crucial meteorological data such as:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Atmospheric pressure
• Wind velocity and direction

When they reach the upper layers of the atmosphere, the decrease in pressure causes the balloon to expand until it bursts. After bursting, a small parachute helps the radiosonde descend safely to the ground.

Significance

• Upper-Air Data Collection: Meteorological agencies worldwide depend on data from weather balloons for upper-air observations, which are vital for accurate weather forecasting and modeling.
• Understanding the Upper Atmosphere: The zone above 5,000 feet, known as the upper atmosphere, plays a crucial role in influencing surface-level weather patterns such as rainfall, temperature, wind, and drought.
• Climate Monitoring: These balloons assist in tracking climate trends, studying storms, and analyzing jet stream behavior. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also deploys them to record essential atmospheric variables.
• Other Uses: Besides meteorology, weather balloons are also utilized in scientific research, defense operations, and space-related experiments due to their low-cost, high-altitude capabilities.

Global Usage

Approximately 900 weather stations around the globe launch these balloons twice daily as part of an internationally coordinated effort to gather upper-atmosphere data.

• United States: The U.S. began routine radiosonde observations in 1937 with a dedicated network that still operates today.
• India: The IMD runs 56 radiosonde stations across the country.

Launches occur at 0000 and 1200 UTC, which translates to 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM IST. These synchronized global launches provide meteorologists with a unified atmospheric snapshot, essential for precise and timely weather predictions.