sääpallojen

Sääpallot, also known as weather balloons, are uncrewed balloons that carry instruments high into the atmosphere to collect data. These instruments, called radiosondes, measure various meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed and direction. The data transmitted by the radiosondes is crucial for weather forecasting and climate research.

Weather balloons are typically made of latex or neoprene and can ascend to altitudes of up to 30 kilometers (about 100,000 feet). As the balloon rises, the atmospheric pressure decreases, causing it to expand significantly. Eventually, the balloon bursts due to the low pressure and the collected instruments are returned to the ground by a parachute.

The launch of weather balloons is a daily routine at meteorological stations worldwide. These launches usually occur twice a day, at coordinated times, to ensure consistent data collection. The information gathered from these observations helps meteorologists create detailed profiles of the atmosphere, which are then assimilated into numerical weather prediction models. Without this vital upper-air data, the accuracy of weather forecasts would be severely limited. In addition to routine forecasting, weather balloons are also used for specialized research purposes, such as studying atmospheric pollution, ozone depletion, and the effects of climate change.