The Function of Weather Balloons

Weather balloons play in an important role in understanding weather patterns and forecasting dangerous storms and weather events. A weather balloon carries an instrument up to 100,000 feet high that records and transmits weather information.

Function

According to MapsoftheWorld.com, weather balloons carry a data collecting instrument called a radiosonde into the sky where it measures important information about upper atmospheric conditions.

Transmission

According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office, data is transmitted from the radiosonde to the launching station where it is entered into a communication network that stretches around the globe.

Gathering Information

Weather balloons gather information about the temperature, pressure and humidity in the atmosphere as well as the direction and speed of winds.

Construction

Weather balloons are made of latex. The radiosonde is attached to a string on the weather balloon. The hydrogen or helium inside the weather balloon lifts it to an altitude of 25 miles or more.

Predicting Storms

The data that weather balloons collect is useful to weather forecasters in predicting the strength and path of large storms. Forecasters are able to warn populations about the severity of weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes and thunderstorms

Resources

• NOAA Education Resources
• Forecasting