Radiosondes (continued)

Another possible application was in the analysis of the distribution of pressure and wind patterns in the upper air. This needed a reasonable network of radiosonde stations and it was not until late in 1943 that this became possible. Our pilot balloon observations of upper wind were also relevant to this application, but their vertical extent was limited by visibility of the balloon which could be restricted by cloud, smoke or dust haze or (in the case of strong upper winds) low elevation angles which made balloon tracking difficult. Although some upper wind observations were obtained during the war by the use of military radar, this was a spasmodic source of information and it was not until 1948 that the Bureau was able to acquire and install a network of wind-finding radars.

The regular receipt of radiosonde information opened new vistas for Australian meteorologists. As early as 1914, Australian meteorologists had realised that upper air processes were likely to be significant in the development of conditions near sea-level, but they were hampered by the lack of sufficient upper air data. The introduction of the radiosonde saw the beginning of the use of electronic technology for remote measurement of the atmosphere. We began making routine analysis of upper air charts for 10 000 and 20 000 feet (later 700 and 500mb) in 1943.

Bureau of Meteorology