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General Studies 3 >> Enivornment & Ecology

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WEATHER BALLOON

WEATHER BALLOON

 
 
1. Context
 
In the wake of budget cuts by the Trump administration, a Silicon Valley startup will soon start to replace the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) weather balloons with AI-powered alternatives, which are supposed to be much cheaper
 
2. Old tradition and practice
 
  • The practice of observing the upper atmosphere dates back to the 18th century. It began in 1749 when two students in Glasgow, Scotland, used kites to measure temperatures at higher altitudes.
  • This approach evolved as meteorologists began attaching instruments—known as meteorographs—to kites to record atmospheric parameters such as pressure, temperature, and humidity.
  • Around the 1780s, the invention of hot air balloons in France opened new possibilities. Scientists used these balloons to ascend to higher altitudes, carrying barometers, thermometers, and other tools for atmospheric research.
  • Despite these advances, early balloon flights posed significant risks. A notable example occurred in 1862 when two British scientists ascended to nearly 11 kilometers and narrowly survived due to severe cold and oxygen deprivation.
  • As a result, kites remained a preferred method for upper air data collection, despite their limitations. They couldn’t rise above roughly 3 kilometers (about 9,800 feet), and the data could only be analyzed after the kite was retrieved and the instruments were recovered.
  • By 1899, the U.S. Weather Bureau had established 17 kite observation stations, each capable of lifting instruments up to 8,000 feet using multiple kites connected in sequence
 
3. History of weather balloon
 
  • French meteorologist Léon Teisserenc de Bort was a pioneer in the use of weather balloons, beginning around 1896. He conducted hundreds of balloon launches and is credited with discovering the tropopause and the stratosphere.
  • These balloon-based observations enabled scientists to gather data from altitudes that were previously inaccessible. As the balloon rose, it would eventually burst, allowing the attached meteorograph to descend gently back to Earth, safeguarding the recorded data for later retrieval.
  • Despite these advances, there were still drawbacks. Meteorological data collected this way wasn’t immediately available for forecasting, and if the meteorograph wasn’t recovered, the data could be lost entirely.
  • These limitations were overcome with the development of radiosondes—also known as radio-meteorographs—in the early 1930s. These compact devices, roughly the size of a coffee cup, could not only measure atmospheric conditions but also transmit the data in real time to ground stations.
  • By 1937, the U.S. Weather Bureau had implemented a nationwide network of radiosonde stations, a system that remains in operation today. India has also established a similar network, comprising 56 stations across the country.
  • Over the years, radiosondes have become more efficient—they’re now lighter, have longer battery life, and utilize GPS technology for improved tracking and wind measurement
 
4. Significance
 
  • At present, approximately 900 weather stations across the globe release weather balloons twice daily as part of a coordinated international initiative to monitor upper atmospheric conditions. These launches occur at 0000 and 1200 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), which translates to 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM in Indian Standard Time (IST).
  • The synchronized timing of these launches enables meteorologists to compile a global snapshot of atmospheric conditions, which is vital for accurate weather prediction.
  • Modern weather balloons are typically made from latex and inflated with helium. They can ascend as high as 115,000 feet (about 35 kilometers), with each flight lasting up to two hours. A radiosonde is attached roughly 66 feet below the balloon, collecting and transmitting atmospheric data.
  • These measurements are stored in a global database and are accessible to researchers worldwide. The data is invaluable for studying weather systems, climate change, and phenomena like El Niño.
  • Despite advancements in satellite technology, weather balloons remain crucial. While satellites provide broad overviews and surface data, balloons offer detailed insight into the atmospheric layer where most weather events occur.
  • They supply essential information about temperature and humidity in the lower atmosphere—factors that significantly influence storm development and intensity. As former U.S. National Weather Service Director Elbert “Joe” noted in an interview with EuroNews, this data is key to determining the potential for and severity of extreme weather.
  • Furthermore, radiosonde readings are instrumental in validating and calibrating satellite-derived measurements, ensuring their accuracy.
  • Due to this importance, the decision by NOAA to reduce weather balloon launches has sparked global concern among experts, who fear it may undermine the quality of weather forecasts
5. Way Forward
 
When Russia tried to cut its radiosonde launches in half, between January 2015 and April 2015, European forecasters saw a decline in their model’s forecast quality, according to a report by American Meteorological Society
 
 

 

For Prelims: Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.

For Mains:  GS-I, Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

 
 
Source: Indianexpress
 

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