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Charles A. Giannetta...Meteorologist - Professor
Virginia (Ginger Gini) T. Hagerman Giannetta...Meteorologist

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Meteorology              Charles A. Giannetta
                         Meteorologist - Professor 
 
"Upper Air Measurements"

   Upper air measurements along with weather radar form the backbone
of gathering weather information for the process of forecasting
further weather.

   As early as "World War I" weather instruments were being flown by 
fastening them to airplane wings. Kites remained in service until
1932 when they were discontinued by the Weather Service in favor
of the airplane.

   The airplane observations program, limited through it was, flew
a stormy course. It was very dangerous and expensive. It reaches its 
peak in 1937. In just those few years, 12 pilots were killed. In 
foul weather when observations were most needed, flights were often 
impossible.

   The 1920s, French and Russian Meteorologists had successfully
combined balloon-flown meteorgraphs with radio transmitters. By 1938,
daily radio soundings became an official weather service program.

   By the beginning of "World War II", the radiosonde replaced the 
airplane. It provided a safe inexpensive way to may daily upper air
weather observations. As more and more radiosonde stations were added,
the profiles formed a picture of the weather from coast to coast. More
than 100 stations are now in operations. They make their observations
simultaneously twice a day.   

   A few radiosonde stations scattered across the United States report
on air stagnation. Air stagnation radiosonde ascend more slowly than
regular radiosondes. They are flown when winds are slight or nonexistent
and the presence of dangerous temperature inversions is expected.



Meteorology              Charles A. Giannetta
                         Meteorologist - Professor 

"Temperature Inversions"


   "A Temperature Inversion"...When warm air is layered above cold air,
prevents the normal rising of air from below. Instead, rising smoke, dust,
and fumes strike the warm air layer and spread like steam against a pot lid.

  If the inversion last long enough undispersed pollutants can reach lethal
concentrations unless measures are taken to reduce the input.

   On of the benefit of upper-air observation program is numerical prediction,
a way of saying when the weather will probably by application of mathematical
equations. Another is simulation by computer of the circulation of the 
atmosphere of the entire globe, a way of applying equations on a worldwide scale.

   With the further sophistication of weather science by rocket probes and the
weather satellites, there has been talk that the radiosonde might become obsolete.


   "NOT SO" True, the modern geostationary satellites (GOES)is a marvel 
of the age.

   It can track storms day or night with ease, but it cannot detail what goes on
at successive points in the envelope of air with the fascinating minuteness of the 
"RADIOSONDE"   

   The radiosonde is often the first warning that conditions may be right 
for tornado formation. It scouts the air ahead of fronts on the move and likely
to clash. It tells of the peril to much or too little rain, snow, winds, 
cold or heat. It also tells of the days when the sun will shine.



Meteorology              Charles A. Giannetta
                         Meteorologist - Professor 
 
"Upper Air Readings"

   Weather forecasts are based largely on upper air measurements taken 
by sending aloft a weather instrument know as the "Radiosonde".
 
"The Radiosonde"


   Broken down the word means: "RADIO" the instrument sends out a 
radio signal, "SONDE" the radio signal sounds out various audio 
tones on a special receiver located at a ground receiving station.

   The radiosonde is carried aloft by a larger weather balloon which is 
about 10 feet in diameter. The balloon is filled with helium. The 
radiosonde is connected to a parachute which is then connected to the 
balloon.

   The radiosonde reaches heights of 100,000 feet or more in about
2 to 3 hours. As the balloon ascends it expands and becomes quite
large until it breaks. The radiosonde begins to fall back towards earth.
At this point the parachute opens allowing the radiosonde to descend at
a slow rate. It takes about another 2 hours for  the radiosonde to
land.

   Some of the radiosondes have been found hundreds of miles from the 
launch site. This due to the high winds in encounters as it ascends and 
descends.

   These winds sometimes are in excess of 200 mph. Frequently these
radiosondes are found. There is no reward for finding one.




Meteorology              Charles A. Giannetta
                         Meteorologist - Professor 
 
"Radiosonde Continued"

  Included with the radiosonde package are instructions as to what one
should do to return it to a reconditioning center. At the center these
instruments are repaired. It is not uncommon for one radiosonde to be 
used more than one time.

  On one particular day a radiosonde was launched from the National
Weather Service Forecast Office, Buffalo, N.Y., was found in Massachusetts.
On another day from the same office there wasn't any wind and the 
radiosonde fall back onto the launch site.

  About 25 percent of the total radiosondes flown each year are mailed
back. Serial numbers on the radiosonde tell where it was launched, many
are returned with a friendly letter telling where and how it was found.

   The information the radiosonde transmits back is air pressure,
temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction. This information forms
a "PROFILE" of the upper air. The radiosonde transmits information 
to the ground receiving station as long as it is with in range. This is
about 200 miles.

  Severe storms are greatly influenced by conditions at all levels of the
atmosphere. Given enough profiles, the forecaster can compute and predict
the probable consequences of the forces at work on any given day.

  The National Weather Service's regular radiosonde launches are part of
hundreds of daily around-the-world launches by cooperative stations under
the international agreement with the "World Meteorological Organization",
(WMO).

   Cooperative stations are located throughout the United States, Canada,
Mexico and many other countries. Radiosondes are lunched from ships off the
Atlantic Coast to warn against ocean generated storms.

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