What is Dropsonde?
[[Image:Dropsonde delivery system.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Dropsonde delivery system on a NOAA P-3 [[Hurricane Hunters]].]] A '''dropsonde''' is a [[weather]] reconnaissance device created by the [[National Center for Atmospheric Research]] (NCAR), designed to be dropped from an [[aircraft]] at altitude to more accurately measure (and therefore track) [[tropical storm]] conditions as the device falls to the ground. The dropsonde contains a [[GPS]] receiver, along with [[pressure]], [[temperature]], and [[humidity]] (PTH) [[sensor]]s to capture [[atmospheric]] profiles and [[thermodynamic]] [[Information|data]]. It typically relays these data to a computer in the aircraft by radio transmission. The device's descent is usually slowed by a [[parachute]], allowing for more readings to be taken before it reaches the [[water]] beneath. ==Other websites== * [http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/index.html Home page of NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center--includes info on dropsondes and the missions where dropsondes are used] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219020934/http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/index.html |date=2015-12-19 }} * [http://www.eol.ucar.edu/rtf/facilities/dropsonde/ Site about the development of a dropsonde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607165932/http://www.eol.ucar.edu/rtf/facilities/dropsonde/ |date=2007-06-07 }} * [http://www.vaisala.com/weather/products/soundingequipment/dropsonde Company that makes them] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217100925/http://www.vaisala.com/weather/products/soundingequipment/dropsonde |date=2007-12-17 }} {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Weather]]