WEATHER BALLOON Definition & Meaning

weather balloon

noun

Meteorology.

sounding balloon.

weather balloon

A balloon used to carry instruments aloft to gather meteorological data in the atmosphere. Weather balloons are tracked by radar, Global Positioning System, or theodolites. The balloon itself usually contains devices to measure temperature, pressure and humidity, although it can contain specialized devices to measure the ozone in the ozone layer. Filled with hydrogen or helium gas, weather balloons can reach 35 km (22 mi) in altitude before disintegrating due to the decreased pressure of the lower stratosphere.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of weather balloon¹

First recorded in 1935–40

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Last night, a weather balloon was sent up.

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China claimed the aircraft was a weather balloon that had been blown off-course, but the U.S. said it was carrying sophisticated intelligence-gathering technology.

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Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told the outlet that the craft was a weather balloon that had flown off-course.

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China responded angrily, saying it was only a weather balloon that had blown off course and called its downing a major overreaction.

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In "Lovers and Madmen", narrated by actor Tom Baker, he attached the portrait and text to a weather balloon, sending them to the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

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