Bath, Pennsylvania - U.S.A.
Charles A. Giannetta
Meteorologist Professor
"T h o d o l i t e"
Picture of a "Theodolite" for tracking weather balloons.
1. A "Theodolite" is a weather instrument similar to a surveying instrument. It consists of
a small telescope for tracking weather balloons.
2. The "Theodolite" is mounted on a tripod. The observer looks through the telescope and
tracks the balloon logging the elevation and azimuth angles every 60 seconds until the
balloon bursts or the balloon reaches a determined height.
3. Before launching the balloon, the "Theodolite" must be leveled and orientated sa as to
obtain the proper elevation and azimuth angles.
4. Throughout the United States weather balloons are launced twice a day at 6am an 6pm
local time and sometimes inbetween to determine the winds aloft.
5. The balloons are observed and tracked through a Theodolite. Some balloons are tracked
with electronic equipment and high speed computers.
6. The information is compiled and than analyzed. Winds aloft weather maps are made of
various levels, such as 1,000 feet up to 100,000 feet levels.
7. These winds aloft are used by airline pilots for planning their flights, whether it be
from Allentown, Pa. to Washington, D.C., or New York to the west coast.
8. Information from winds aloft charts are also used to locate the jet streams.
9. Jet streams are winds which have speeds of over 50 mph and maybe as high 300 plus mph.
10. Winds aloft are also used to determine the present and forecast conditions. The movement
of air masses and weather fronts.
© 1998 -2013 Charles A. Giannetta
BACK
Charles A. Giannetta |
|---|
Meteorologist Professor
"T h o d o l i t e"
Picture of a "Theodolite" for tracking weather balloons.
1. A "Theodolite" is a weather instrument similar to a surveying instrument. It consists of
a small telescope for tracking weather balloons.
2. The "Theodolite" is mounted on a tripod. The observer looks through the telescope and
tracks the balloon logging the elevation and azimuth angles every 60 seconds until the
balloon bursts or the balloon reaches a determined height.
3. Before launching the balloon, the "Theodolite" must be leveled and orientated sa as to
obtain the proper elevation and azimuth angles.
4. Throughout the United States weather balloons are launced twice a day at 6am an 6pm
local time and sometimes inbetween to determine the winds aloft.
5. The balloons are observed and tracked through a Theodolite. Some balloons are tracked
with electronic equipment and high speed computers.
6. The information is compiled and than analyzed. Winds aloft weather maps are made of
various levels, such as 1,000 feet up to 100,000 feet levels.
7. These winds aloft are used by airline pilots for planning their flights, whether it be
from Allentown, Pa. to Washington, D.C., or New York to the west coast.
8. Information from winds aloft charts are also used to locate the jet streams.
9. Jet streams are winds which have speeds of over 50 mph and maybe as high 300 plus mph.
10. Winds aloft are also used to determine the present and forecast conditions. The movement
of air masses and weather fronts.
© 1998 -2013 Charles A. Giannetta
BACK
"T h o d o l i t e"
Picture of a "Theodolite" for tracking weather balloons.
1. A "Theodolite" is a weather instrument similar to a surveying instrument. It consists of
a small telescope for tracking weather balloons.
4. Throughout the United States weather balloons are launced twice a day at 6am an 6pm
local time and sometimes inbetween to determine the winds aloft.
2. The "Theodolite" is mounted on a tripod. The observer looks through the telescope and
tracks the balloon logging the elevation and azimuth angles every 60 seconds until the
balloon bursts or the balloon reaches a determined height.
3. Before launching the balloon, the "Theodolite" must be leveled and orientated sa as to
obtain the proper elevation and azimuth angles.
5. The balloons are observed and tracked through a Theodolite. Some balloons are tracked
with electronic equipment and high speed computers.
6. The information is compiled and than analyzed. Winds aloft weather maps are made of
various levels, such as 1,000 feet up to 100,000 feet levels.
7. These winds aloft are used by airline pilots for planning their flights, whether it be
from Allentown, Pa. to Washington, D.C., or New York to the west coast.
8. Information from winds aloft charts are also used to locate the jet streams.
9. Jet streams are winds which have speeds of over 50 mph and maybe as high 300 plus mph.
10. Winds aloft are also used to determine the present and forecast conditions. The movement
of air masses and weather fronts.
© 1998 -2013 Charles A. Giannetta
BACK