Weather station visit

The SC 130 Physical Science class visited the weather station to learn about their services and to observe a weather balloon launch.


The balloon was prepped for launch. Students present included Sidney, Bernie, Sru, LaPrincia, and Etwet. Loyeesha arrived just ahead of the balloon launch.

Hydrogen is used to provide the balloon with buoyancy. Hydrogen is less dense than air. The weather station has equipment that produces hydrogen. As a backup, tanks of helium are available. 

The radiosonde is a newer, smaller unit. In the past the radiosonde had to be manually tracked, now the radiosonde reports its GPS coordinates based on satellite data. No tracking required. The large on site dome is no longer used - that contained a tracking antenna. 

Balloon release.
Ascent

Inside the radiosonde data is displayed on a computer. 


On the left is a dew point (blue), temperature (red), and relative humidity (green) profile. On the right is the track of the balloon. 


Temperature falls steadily with increasing altitude, at least up until the stratosphere is reached.


The radiosonde is reporting a dewpoint of -63.08℃, a temperature of -51.51℃, and a relative humidity of 24.25% - exceptionally dry air aloft.


The GPS provides coordinates down to a tenth of a second, roughly 0.002 arcminutes. The balloon has traveled 10.2 kilometers downrange and is at a height 12,179 meters (almost 40,000 feet). The balloon moved to the west-northwest until up around 10,000 meters and then the balloon doubled back on a east-southeast track. The winds aloft are not the same as the low level winds. 

Kenely Andon explained the work done and services provided by the weather service office. Etwet watches the weather balloon data coming in on the computer off screen to the left. 


Etwet, LaPrincia, Sidney, and Loyeesha listening to the presentation.


The class had been prepped for the field trip the day before with a lecture presentations on weather terminology and services, El Niño Southern Oscillation, and on typhoons. 

The SC 130 Physical Science class thanks the Pohnpei weather service office for hosting the students. A special thanks to NOAA Affiliate Skilling for welcoming the class to the weather office. 

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