What
Can You Learn from a Thermometer on a Rising Balloon?
ES1702
High
Altitude Balloons
Since
the beginning of the 20th century, Americans have been
sending thermometers into the sky on balloons. They do
so to learn about the properties and structure of the
atmosphere. The most commonly used approach is to attach
a small instrument package to the bottom of a rising balloon.
The package transmits temperature and altitude data to
a ground receiving station.
! Click each image to see a larger view.
Twice each day, weather balloons are launched from almost 100 different locations across North America and the Pacific islands.
