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Instrument

Radiosonde
Radiosonde

Radiosondes are a balloon-borne instrument package used to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. These sensors are connected to a radio transmitter that sends the measurements to a ground receiver typically operating in the 400-406 MHz range. They typically provide measurements at 1-6 seconds, depending on the type and manufacturer of the radiosonde. Radiosondes are used for weather forecasting, ground truth satellite data, atmospheric research, and input for weather prediction models.

Image of nightime radiosonde launch
NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Instrument Details

Multi
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Vertical Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds
Full Column Profile
1-6 s
Point
400-406 MHz
Currently unavailble
LISTOS

Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study

2017—2019
New York City metropolitan and Long Island Sound area, Northeastern U.S.
view all deployment dates
2 Deployments
· 17 Data Products
ABLE

Global Tropospheric Experiment - Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment

1984—1990
Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Amazon Rainforest, Greenland, Eastern Canada, Alaska
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5 Deployments
· 0 Data Products
C3VP

Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

2006—2007
Ontario, Canada
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1 Deployment
· 6 Data Products
SPURS

Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study

2012—2017
Subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean
view all deployment dates
2 Deployments
· 41 Data Products
ACCENT

Atmospheric Chemistry of Combustion Emissions Near the Tropopause

1999—2000
Southern United States
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3 Deployments
· 0 Data Products
MidCiX

Middle Latitude Cirrus Experiment

2004
South-central United States
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
ASTEX

Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment

1992
Azores and Madeira islands
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
CARAFE

NASA Carbon Atmospheric Flux Experiment

2016—2017
Eastern United States Coast, Mid-Atlantic Region
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2 Deployments
· 1 Data Product
SMEX

Soil Moisture Experiment

2002—2005
Iowa, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Sonora, Mexico
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4 Deployments
· 0 Data Products
WAM

WB-57 Aerosol Mission

1998
Ellington Field, Houston, Texas
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
JAIVEx

Joint Airborne IASI Validation Experiment

2007
Ellington Field (EFD), Houston, TX
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns
CAMPAIGNS
Platforms
PLATFORMS
Formats
FORMATS
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/TARFOX/0003External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0051External Link
10.3334/ORNLDAAC/728External Link
10.3334/ORNLDAAC/729External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0052External Link
10.3334/ORNLDAAC/238External Link
10.5067/SMODE-SONDEExternal Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0125External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0058External Link
10.3334/ORNLDAAC/239External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0007External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0041External Link
10.5067/ASDC/DCOTSS-Balloon-Data_1External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0042External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0064External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0065External Link
10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/TOTE-VOTE_Sondes_Data_1External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0130External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0123External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0112External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0094External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0049External Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0050External Link
10.5067/CAMEX-4/RADIOSONDE/DATA101External Link
10.5067/CAMEX-3/RADIOSONDE/DATA101External Link
10.5067/HS3/SHIPS/DATA101External Link
10.5067/SPUR2-SONDEExternal Link
10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0111External Link