Radiosonde History and Global Impact

Radiosondes have been used for over 80 years to collect weather data from the upper atmosphere.

The first radiosonde was launched in 1930 by the Swedish engineer Carl-Gustaf Rossby, who used a radio transmitter to send weather data from a balloon to the ground.

These early radiosondes were made of paper and were relatively simple, but they paved the way for the more advanced models that followed.

By the 1950s, radiosondes were being used globally to collect weather data, with the first satellite-based weather forecasting system launched in 1960.

The data collected by radiosondes has been instrumental in improving weather forecasting, helping to save countless lives and prevent devastating weather-related disasters.

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A radiosonde is a small instrument package that's attached to a weather balloon and sent up into the atmosphere to collect data. It's essentially a tiny robot that helps us understand the weather.

These instruments can measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure, which are all crucial factors in predicting the weather. They do this by using sensors that are incredibly accurate.

Radiosondes are launched from weather stations around the world, often multiple times a day. This helps scientists get a more complete picture of the weather patterns.

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Radiosondes are launched using balloons filled with helium or hydrogen, which can range in size from 100 to 3,000 grams. The balloon's diameter and thickness determine its maximum altitude, which can reach up to 21 km before bursting.

A typical radiosonde flight lasts 60 to 90 minutes, and some radiosondes have even reached altitudes of 155,092 feet. The weight of a radiosonde is usually around 250 grams.

Radiosondes can be tracked using radar or GPS, and some even use a radio direction finder to determine wind speed and direction. Modern radiosondes communicate with a computer that stores data in real-time.

Worldwide, there are about 1,300 radiosonde launch sites, with most countries sharing data through international agreements. Radiosondes are launched one hour before official observation times, which are usually 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC.

The US National Weather Service launches radiosondes twice daily from 92 stations, including 69 in the conterminous United States, 13 in Alaska, and 10 in the Caribbean.

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Radiosonde data is a crucial component of numerical weather prediction, and it's used in a variety of ways. Forecasters view the data in graphical format, plotted on thermodynamic diagrams such as Skew-T log-P diagrams.

Data from radiosondes is input into computer-based weather prediction models, which helps forecasters make accurate predictions. Local severe storm, aviation, and marine forecasts also rely on radiosonde data.

Radiosonde observations are used in weather and climate change research, and they're also used to input air pollution research. This data is plotted on a chart called a "Skew-T" which provides a wealth of information about the state of the atmosphere.

In less developed parts of the globe, such as Africa, there's a significant lack of surface- and upper-air observations. This is particularly concerning because Africa is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change.

Radiosondes may drift several hundred kilometers during their 90- to 120-minute flight, but this doesn't seem to cause problems with model initialization, except perhaps locally in jet stream regions in the stratosphere.

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Here are some examples of how radiosonde data is used:

Weather drones, which have precise control over their location, may be able to solve the issue of drift in radiosondes in the future.

The NWS uses three types of GPS radiosondes: DFM-17 built by GRAWMET and RS41-NG and RS41-SG built by Vaisala.

The RS41-NG and RS41-SG radiosondes share the same sensor package, making them similar in functionality.

DFM-17 radiosondes are built by GRAWMET, specifically for manual stations, whereas RS41-NG and RS41-SG are also used for manual stations.

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In the first phase of a radiosonde's activation, calibration and systems check are crucial to ensure the device is working properly. This process is conducted via computer to verify the radiosonde is functioning correctly.

Once the radiosonde is turned on, it becomes active and visible on radar. It's like turning on a device and watching it spring to life.

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To avoid any potential issues, calibration and testing are done to check the device's performance. This is a standard procedure to guarantee the radiosonde is operating as intended.

Tuning the radiosonde to a specific radio frequency is essential, much like tuning a car radio to your favorite station. Each radiosonde is given its own frequency to avoid cross frequency disturbance.

The NWS uses a variety of tools to gather data, but one of the most interesting ones is radiosondes. The NWS currently uses three types of GPS radiosondes.

The DFM-17 is one of the radiosondes used by the NWS, built by GRAWMET for manual stations. These radiosondes are crucial for collecting data on atmospheric conditions.

The RS41-NG is another type of radiosonde used by the NWS, built by Vaisala for manual stations. It's worth noting that the RS41-NG and RS41-SG utilize the same sensor package.

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The history and regulation of radiosondes are closely tied to international standards. According to the International Telecommunication Union, a meteorological aids service is defined as a radiocommunication service used for meteorological observations.

This service is governed by the ITU Radio Regulations, specifically Article 1.50. A radiosonde is classified as an automatic radio transmitter used in this service, typically carried on aircraft, free balloons, kites, or parachutes.

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The radiosonde got its name from the French term 'radio sounding,' coined by Robert Bureau of the National Meteorology Office of France in 1929.

The term 'sounding' refers to measuring physical properties at a significant height or depth.

Robert Bureau was one of the earliest to fly a radiosonde, and his naming of the device has stuck ever since.

Measuring physical properties at a significant height or depth is exactly what radiosondes do, making the name a fitting description of their purpose.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) plays a key role in regulating meteorological aids services. According to the ITU Radio Regulations (RR), a meteorological aids service is defined as a radiocommunication service used for meteorological, including hydrological, observations and exploration.

Article 1.109 of the ITU RR states that a radiosonde is an automatic radio transmitter in the meteorological aids service, typically carried on an aircraft, free balloon, kite, or parachute, and which transmits meteorological data.

Radio transmitters used in meteorological aids services must be classified by the radiocommunication service in which they operate permanently or temporarily.

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The modern radiosonde has a clear lifecycle, which ensures the reliability of the data it transmits to the ground receiver.

It goes through four phases, each one crucial for accurate readings.

In 2023, NIST museum staff witnessed firsthand the launch of a radiosonde at the National Weather Service, demonstrating the importance of this process.

A radiosonde goes through four phases in its lifecycle, ensuring the reliability of the data transmitted to the ground receiver.

Each phase plays a crucial role in the radiosonde's ability to collect and transmit accurate weather data.

In 2023, NIST museum staff visited the National Weather Service to take part in the launch of a radiosonde, witnessing firsthand the importance of these phases.

The four phases are designed to work together seamlessly, guaranteeing that the data received is reliable and accurate.

Radiosondes have been enhancing our understanding of the atmosphere since their invention in the 1920s.

The real-time collection and measurement precision of radiosondes make them a reliable device for meteorological research and weather forecasting.

The data collected by radiosondes is used for computer-based weather prediction models.

Local severe storm warnings rely heavily on the data provided by radiosondes.

Aviation and marine forecasts also benefit from the information gathered by radiosondes.

The data is analyzed for climate modeling, which helps us understand long-term weather patterns.

Air pollution monitoring is another important application of radiosonde data.

Radiosondes are used to ground-truth satellite data, which helps ensure the accuracy of satellite imagery.

The world of radiosondes is a collaborative effort, with National Weather Service centers launching them daily every 12 hours. Over 200 radiosondes are in the air each day.

The sheer scale of this operation is impressive, with about 80,000 radiosondes used annually.

If you're curious to see all the active radiosondes around the world, you can visit SondeHub Tracker online.

This online tracker gives you a glimpse into the global scope of radiosonde deployment, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in weather forecasting.

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