Abstract
To provide details concerning stratospheric balloons, this chapter first presents a breife summary of the composition of the earth’s atmosphere and air movement within the atmosphere. Up-to-date meteorological data both prior to launch and during the flight are essential for ensuring safety during a flight, as are forecast predictions. Collection of upper-air data obtained by objective analysis and numerical prediction is described. The utilization of these data for numerically simulating balloon flight paths is also mentioned. Next, common on-board instruments used for balloon flight control are described. We then explain how balloons are launched and how their flights are controlled. The facilities for balloon launching and radio tracking of balloons are introduced. In addition, the materials and manufacturing processes for balloon membranes are presented. Rubber balloon technology for meteorological observation is also described. Typical examples of balloon utilizations in various science and technology fields are mentioned at the final section.
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Yajima, N., Imamura, T., Izutsu, N., Abe, T. (2009). Stratospheric Balloons. In: Scientific Ballooning. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09727-5_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09727-5_3
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