[Explanation] The Changchun National Reference Climatic Station located in the Luyuan District of Changchun City releases air sounding balloons every day, and the basic meteorological data detected at high altitudes need to participate in the exchange of domestic and international meteorological data. So, what is a sounding ball? What role does it play in meteorological observations? The reporter walked into the Changchun National Benchmark Climate Station on August 12 to find out.
The inflating balloon in front of me is not an ordinary balloon, but a balloon with a radiosonde on the bottom. When it is filled with hydrogen and lifted into the air, it is like a stethoscope, scanning layer by layer from low altitude to high altitude, so as to obtain the values of meteorological elements at various levels in the air.
[Concurrent] Sun Kemin, Meteorological Observer of Changchun National Reference Climate Station
It detects from the ground up to an altitude of 30,000 meters, and then this atmospheric weather element temperature, pressure and humidity, including the five elements of the state of motion of the atmosphere, wind direction, and wind speed.
[Explanation] Before releasing the air probe, the meteorological observer must fill the balloon with hydrogen. During the inflation process, the weather observer also checks whether the balloon is leaking. Because the flying height of the balloon will directly affect the efficiency of collecting high-altitude weather information.
[Concurrent] Sun Kemin, Meteorological Observer of Changchun National Reference Climate Station
Generally fill this balloon, because we buy hydrogen, basically use a cylinder of hydrogen, if you want to catch up with rainy or windy days, you must increase the net lifting force appropriately, and then you have to go inside (fill more ), relatively speaking, it is about a cylinder and a half.
[Explanation] From the moment it leaves the hands of a weather observer, the radar starts to track the balloon in real time, collect data every second, and transmit the data back in real time.
[Concurrent] Sun Kemin, Meteorological Observer of Changchun National Reference Climate Station
Now there are three curves scrolling on this screen, temperature, pressure, and humidity. The altitude is now about 5300 meters, and the software will now sort out the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the ground floor.
[Explanation] Changchun National Reference Climatic Station is a "century weather station" recognized by the World Meteorological Organization. No matter it is windy or rainy, two sounding balloons will be released every day. It will cost about 700,000 yuan.
[Concurrent] Sun Kemin, Meteorological Observer of Changchun National Reference Climate Station
It (the measured data) is not derived from satellite inversion or other (means). The instrument flies to this altitude in real time, and the detected data is actually very accurate. Therefore, in the meteorological department, including the modernization of our country, we still have to use this high altitude (detection balloon) today. In fact, if the country becomes stronger and stronger in the future, I feel that high altitude sites are possible. Will increase again.
[Explanation] On the same day, the balloon exploded after flying to an altitude of about 30,000 meters. After the balloon exploded, the wreckage would fall in the direction of the airflow. Experts said that people do not have to worry about being hit, because most of the balloons fall in the sparsely populated field, and the radiosondes are also very light and wrapped in foam. If found, there is no need to return it to the meteorological department.
Reporter Guo Jia Changchun
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]