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Measuring weather
Upper air measurements
It is relatively simple to make in situ measurements of weather near the ground, but doing it in higher parts of the atmosphere is always more involved, since you have to lift instruments into the air. All of the same kinds of atmospheric variables we have learned about on the ground can also be observed aloft, but we can sometimes run into challenges with instruments that area too heavy to lift, those that require a lot of power and those that are hindered if they are moving around under a balloon at the observation time, which is often the case. There is also the issue of how high to measure. Most in situ observations do not extend above the lower stratosphere. To learn about the different levels of the atmosphere where upper air observations may take place, the Windows to the Universe atmospheric levels webpage is a good place to go. In situ measurements of the upper atmosphere date back to the 1700s and have an interesting history beginning with kites, then moving to manned and finally unmanned balloons and powered aircrafts. Let's look at ways we measure the weather in the upper atmosphere. Next page -> in situ, upper air measurements, radiosondes & rawinsondes
Links and resources
Upper air measurements
It is relatively simple to make in situ measurements of weather near the ground, but doing it in higher parts of the atmosphere is always more involved, since you have to lift instruments into the air. All of the same kinds of atmospheric variables we have learned about on the ground can also be observed aloft, but we can sometimes run into challenges with instruments that area too heavy to lift, those that require a lot of power and those that are hindered if they are moving around under a balloon at the observation time, which is often the case. There is also the issue of how high to measure. Most in situ observations do not extend above the lower stratosphere. To learn about the different levels of the atmosphere where upper air observations may take place, the Windows to the Universe atmospheric levels webpage is a good place to go. In situ measurements of the upper atmosphere date back to the 1700s and have an interesting history beginning with kites, then moving to manned and finally unmanned balloons and powered aircrafts. Let's look at ways we measure the weather in the upper atmosphere. Next page -> in situ, upper air measurements, radiosondes & rawinsondes
Links and resources
