Kitekint

Kitekint is a term used in amateur meteorology and environmental observation to describe a low-cost field technique that uses a tethered kite to carry lightweight sensors or a small camera for atmospheric observation. The method enables vertical profiling of wind, temperature, humidity, and cloud features over open terrain without relying on aircraft or weather balloons, making it accessible to hobbyists and researchers with limited budgets.

The exact origin of the word is not well documented, but it appears to be a compound of “kite” and a root related to inspection or viewing. It is believed to have emerged in online communities in the early 2000s and spread through hobbyist magazines and citizen-science projects.

In practice, practitioners use a small kite with a compact sensor payload or camera attached, along with a data logger and GPS. Short sessions in suitable wind conditions yield data on boundary layer structure, wind shear, and cloud movement. Safety considerations and airspace regulations apply, and the technique is typically conducted away from airports and crowds.

Common equipment includes an appropriate kite, a lightweight data logger, sensors for temperature, humidity, and pressure, a compact camera (optional), a flight line, and a ground station for data retrieval. Limitations include weather dependence, potential for line tangling, data noise, and regulatory constraints.

Applications span meteorology, environmental monitoring, education, and citizen science. Kitekint offers a cost-effective means of obtaining aerial observations at low altitude, complementing ground-based sensors and other aerial platforms. See also: kite aerial photography, citizen science, atmospheric science.