Flight test results of a low-cost balloon borne chilled mirror hygrometer

Flight test results of a low-cost balloon borne chilled mirror hygrometer

Yankee Environmental Systems is developing a low-cost thermoelectrically cooled chilled mirror dew/frost point hygrometer suitable for deployment with balloon borne radiosondes. The sensor utilizes optical methods for condensation detection. Objectives of the design include minimizing the impact of icing from supersaturated clouds, and optimization of the instrument time response.

Important aspects of the design of the sensor include active aspiration, geometry and materials of the sample path, and a digital control system. Flight results are presented comparing humidity measurements from the chilled mirror sensor and conventional polymer sensors.