The ozonesonde is a lightweight, balloon-borne instrument that
is mated to a conventional meteorological radiosonde. As the
balloon carrying the instrument package ascends through the
atmosphere, the ozonesonde telemeters to a ground receiving
station information on ozone and standard meteorological
quantities such as pressure, temperature and humidity. The
balloon will ascend to altitudes of about 115,000 feet (35 km)
before it bursts. An ozonesonde consists of a Teflon air pump
and electrochemical ozone sensor interfaced to a meteorological
radiosonde. The small piston pump bubbles ambient air into the
sensor cell containing 3 milliliters of 1% potassium iodide
solution. The reaction of ozone and iodide generates an
electrical signal proportional to the amount of ozone. The
radiosonde measures air temperature, pressure, relative humidity
and transmits all of the ozone and weather data back to a ground
receiving station during the 2 hour weather balloon ascent.