Prior to GATE, profile measurements of winds on balloons were largely limited to land based stations using radar tracking and radio and optical theodolites. The development of global radio navigation systems (Omega and LORAN) in the 1950s and 1960s opened up new possibilities and made wind measurements from radiosondes and dropsondes feasible also over open oceans, in particular in the GATE region of interest.
NCAR together with John Beukers were some of the leaders in the development of this technology, which bore fruit during GATE. Although the initial plans were for a new dropsonde system, which was to be launched on long duration balloons, a parallel development for a dropsonde system on aircraft was initiated and completed in time to be deployed during GATE.
Three aircraft launched 412 dropsondes developed by NCAR and produced by Dorsett Electronics, which were the first wind measurements below aircraft flight level over open oceans.
The long duration Carrier Balloon System (CBS), which was developed simultaneously, conducted several test flights and two larger deployments in Kourou, French Guiana. The last flights in 1975 demonstrated the capabilities of this long duration balloon-borne dropsonde system; however, it was discontinued in favor of the aircraft deployable dropsonde system.
In this presentation we will provide more details about the timelines and people involved in the developments of wind finding dropsondes leading up to GATE. They laid the foundation for the NCAR dropsonde program, which still leads global dropsonde observations today.
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner