The First Radiosonde

[knocker]

Preparing to launch America's first "ballon-sonde." Since this first launch, literally millions of weather balloons have been launched by the National Weather Service and its predecessor organization. Missouri, St. Louis, 1904 September 15. No, that isn't a young JH on his hols.

NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) Collection

[johnholmes]

Preparing to launch America's first "ballon-sonde." Since this first launch, literally millions of weather balloons have been launched by the National Weather Service and its predecessor organization. Missouri, St. Louis, 1904 September 15. No, that isn't a young JH on his hols.

and that is enough of that young man thank you very much

anyway US of A is one country I have never been to even in short trousers!

[Coast]

Well according to this article, the first weather balloon (I guess for human observations) was:

In 1785, English physician John Jeffries launched the first weather balloon. This simple invention made it possible for future scientists to unravel some of the mysteries of the upper atmosphere and how it affects weather patterns.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7233886_weather-balloon-used-for_.html#ixzz1IRvpGOtc

He is best known for accompanying Jean-Pierre Blanchard on his 1785 balloon flight across the English Channel. Dr. John Jeffries also played a large role in the trial for the Boston Massacre. He was the star witness for the defense. He was the surgeon for Patrick Carr, who was one of the Americans shot during that incident. Jeffries is also credited with being among America's first weather observers. He began taking daily weather measurements in 1774 in Boston, as well as taking weather observations in a balloon over London in 1784.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jeffries

The first successful radiosonde in the UK was the “Kew†Met Office sonde, in use from 1939. Improvements followed, and the “Mark2†was used from 1945 up until the 1960s

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION HERE

Other reading:

http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/HistoryTechnology/pdf_lo/SSHT-0053.pdf

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%201227.html

http://iopscience.iop.org/0959-5309/59/4/313

A Sonde is a device that is attached to a helium filled balloon, it is battery powered, and has various sensors that measure the temperature by using a thermistor, the temperature range for the thermistor lies between approximately -60°C to +90°C. Air pressure is measured over a very wide range using a aneroid barometer. The humidity is measured using a hygristor this is a sensor consisting of a glass slide or plastic strip covered with a moisture sensitive film of lithium chloride (LiCl) and a binder; metal strips are located along the edges. The electrical resistance of the chemical changes with a change in the atmospheric humidity, a GPS receiver and a UHF low power transmitter is also incorporated. Earlier models were tracked using radar for their locations, and had a 27MHz transmitter.

The majority of European Sondes are manufactured by a company called Vaisala, a typical example is shown. The UHF transmitter, which only has around 100 milliwatts of power, transmits 1200 baud data. The battery is designed to last between 2 and 3 hours, and the total weight is around 220 grams, including the polystyrene packaging.

Sondes are launched twice a day at various locations around the UK at 12.15 am and 12.15 pm, they take around 1½ hours before the balloon bursts at a typical height of 20km above ground and up to 200km from the launch site; this is all depends on the direction and speed of the wind. There is a small parachute attached which slows the descent of the Sonde, when it eventually returns to the ground it is then of no further use. It is possible to receive Radio Sondes on a standard radio scanner over a 100km range depending on how sensitive your receiver is and how your antenna is positioned, you can download a programme that will give you Sonde data including its Position.

http://www.lefars.org.uk/lefars_website/publications/radio_sondes.pdf

http://www.vaisala.com/en/meteorology/products/soundingsystemsandradiosondes/radiosondes/Pages/RS92.aspx

http://www.bullnet.co.uk/shops/test/totex.htm