Dropsonde facts for kids
A dropsonde is a special tool that scientists use to study the weather. It's like a small, smart device that gets dropped from an airplane high up in the sky. Its main job is to measure important things inside big storms, especially tropical storms like hurricanes. This helps weather experts understand these powerful storms better and predict where they might go.
Contents
What is a Dropsonde?
A dropsonde was invented by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). It's designed to be released from an airplane flying high above the ground. As it falls, it collects important information about the air around it. This information is super helpful for tracking and understanding strong weather systems.
How Does a Dropsonde Work?
Each dropsonde has several important parts inside. It has a GPS receiver, which helps it know exactly where it is. It also has special sensors that measure three key things:
- Pressure: How much the air is pushing down.
- Temperature: How hot or cold the air is.
- Humidity: How much water vapor is in the air.
As the dropsonde falls through the atmosphere, these sensors constantly gather data. It then sends all this information back to a computer on the airplane using a radio signal. To make sure it collects enough readings, the dropsonde usually has a small parachute. This parachute slows down its fall, giving it more time to measure the air before it reaches the water or ground below.
Why Are Dropsondes Important?
Dropsondes are very important for studying tropical storms like hurricanes. Airplanes called Hurricane Hunters fly into these storms and release dropsondes. By getting real-time data from inside the storm, weather scientists can create more accurate forecasts. This helps people prepare for severe weather and stay safe. The information helps us understand how storms form, grow, and move.
Images for kids
-
A diagram of an NCAR GPS Dropsonde
-
Dropsonde (source US Air Force)
