At an isolated weather station in the central United States,
a technician emerges from a small brick shed grasping a balloon. It's not just
any birthday party balloon, mind you, but a massive, white sphere more than 5
feet (1.5 meters) in diameter. In the other hand, the scientist grasps a
radiosonde, a lightweight cardboard box filled with scientific instruments
that's tied to the bottom of the balloon. Striding out into an empty clearing,
he gently releases the balloon and radiosonde.
After an hour, the balloon has ascended to almost 100,000
feet. Below, the Earth's features
are obscured by a thick layer of cloud. Above, the blue sky has faded to dark
black. It's a beautiful sight, one only seen by a handful of astronauts and
test pilots.
For the balloon, these breathtaking views will be its last
moments. All throughout its ascent, the balloon has been expanding…. It is now
the size of a moving truck. Stretched to its limit, the balloon bursts and
sends the tiny radiosonde plummeting back toward Earth. Within seconds, the
wind catches a small, orange parachute and slows the device's descent.
Each day, hundreds of weather balloons around the world
undertake this dramatic, near-space voyage. More than 70 years after scientists
sent up the first experimental weather balloon, they remain the workhorses of
modern meteorological forecasts. Whether it's a tornado warning or the weather
report on the 6 o'clock news, weather balloons are what keep people on the
ground tuned in to the meteorological workings of the upper atmosphere.
Thanks to HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM for this post.
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