Weather Balloons for Sale at FACTORY PRICES for Professionals. Please select from our Product range

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Weather Balloons or Meteorological Balloons are used in the measurement and evaluation of mostly upper atmospheric conditions. Information may be gathered during the vertical ascent of the balloon through the atmosphere or during its motions once it has reached a predetermined maximum altitude.

Weather Balloons General Information

Today, atmospheric information is most often gathered by height-finding radar, remote sensing by earth-orbiting or stationary satellites, and aircraft instruments, with weather balloons augmenting the data. Helium, which is less dense than air (see buoyancy), is usually used to inflate weather balloons. A pilot balloon is a small balloon (diameter c.1 m/39 in.) whose ascent is followed visually to obtain data for the computation of the speed and direction of winds at different altitudes. A smaller ceiling balloon is used to determine the altitude of cloud bases. A much larger, teardrop-shaped balloon is used to carry a radiosonde aloft. The balloon expands as it rises, usually reaching an altitude of at least 90,000 ft (27,400 m) before it bursts. A small parachute lowers the instruments to the ground. Teardrop-shaped balloons are also used for horizontal sounding of the atmosphere. Atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity information may be sent by radio from a balloon; monitoring of its movement provides information about winds at its flight level. Techniques also have been developed whereby many horizontal sounding balloons can be monitored by earth-orbiting satellites that relay information to earth-based stations. The tetroon is a tetrahedral balloon used for horizontal sounding. It was developed to withstand the extremely low pressures of high-altitude flight; the straight seals joining its four triangular faces are stronger than the curved seals of the more traditionally shaped balloons. Tetroons have been used extensively in tracing low-level atmospheric currents by following their movement with radar; they have thus increased the meteorologist’s understanding of atmospheric turbulence, low-level vertical motions, and air pollution dispersion.

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Sounding Balloons for Sale at FACTORY PRICES for Professionals. Please select from our Product range

A Sounding balloons, also known as a type of high altitude weather balloon is a balloon which carries instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity 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).

Materials and equipment

The sounding 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 due to lower cost, though helium can be used as a substitute. The ascent rate can be controlled by the amount of gas with which the sounding balloon is filled. Weather balloons may reach altitudes of 40 km (25 miles) 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. Above that altitude sounding rockets are used. After sounding rockets, satellites are used for even higher altitudes.
Major manufacturers of balloons are Totex and Cosmopren of Japan, Pawan Rubber Products (Pawan Exports) of India, Kaysam (now Kaymont), and Scientific Sales, Inc. of the U.S..
Weather balloons are sometimes cited as the cause for unidentified flying object sightings, and are also used for cluster ballooning.

Sounding Balloons Launch time, location, and uses

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. About 800 locations around the globe do routine releases, twice daily, usually at 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC. 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 is shared with all nations.
Specialized uses also exist, such as for aviation interests, pollution monitoring, 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).

Do not hesitate to contact us to review our Meteorological Balloons Prices & Specifications

Do not hesitate to contact us to review our Meteorological Balloons Prices & Specifications!