AWA radiosonde atmospheric measuring instrument

The radiosonde is a meteorological instrument which is hung from a balloon released into the atmosphere. As the balloon goes up the radiosonde records air pressure, temperature and relative humidity and sends this information back to earth via radio waves. It allows metrologists to measure changes in atmospheric conditions and, hence, make weather predictions.

This radiosonde is one of the earliest used in Australia. Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd started producing these instruments …

Summary

Object No.

92/414

Object Statement

Radiosonde, metal / cardboard / textile / plastic, made by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947-1948

Physical Description

The radiosonde consists of electronic components held within a waterproofed cardboard box that has been insulated on the inside. Printed on one side of the box is text explaining the function of the Radiosonde. Sections of the cardboard box have been cut away to reveal some of the electronic components that make up the instrument. A wire with the lead weight constitutes the lower half of the dipole transmission antenna. It has an "S" shaped ventilation duct and a single aneroid pressure cell. At the top of the Radiosonde is a white fabric strap with a metal o-ring attached.

Marks

Text on one side of the radiosonde reads, 'RADIOSONDE / PROPERTY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / THIS INSTRUMENT WAS RELEASED FROM A WEATHER / STATION AND CARRIED ALOFT BY MEANS OF A / SOUNDING BALLOON WHILE ALOFT THE INSTRUMENT / TRANSMITTED RADIO SIGNALS WHICH INDICATED TEMP- / ERATURE, HUMIDITY AND PRESSURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE / THROUGH WHICH IT PASSED. WHEN THE BALLOON BURST / THE INSTRUMENT DESCENDED SLOWLY BY PARACHUTE'.
Printed in black ink on side, 'AMALGAMATED WIRELESS (A SIA.)LTD. / RADIO ELECTRIC WORKS / SYDNEY'
Topt, printed in black ink, 'SERIAL No. A.W.A.'

Short URL

https://ma.as/127456

Dimensions

Height

210 mm

Width

120 mm

Depth

260 mm

Production

Made

Notes

In 1943 Radiosondes based on a design by Diamond-Hinman were first introduced to Australia. These were a part of wartime attempts to predict and measure weather systems. This design remained relatively unchanged for the next forty years. In 1945 the first Australian-made instruments were introduced by Radio Corporation Ltd under the ASTOR label.

In 1947 Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd, (AWA), began to make small numbers and in 1959 were able to expand production after the introduction of six new stations.

A major shift in the design of the Radiosonde came about in 1981 with the introduction of the Vaisala RS80. Made in Finland, they were much smaller than previous versions and required no assembly or calibration before launch. Small balloons made them more economical and also less of an air safety risk.

In 1990 a personal computer-based radiosonde computation system was introduced, enabling the meteorological data to be updated automatically rather than manually.

Nowadays balloons are sent up twice a day, at midnight and midday, from stations around the world. They record information until they are 30 kilometres above sea level, when air pressure causes the balloon to burst. The information they collect (ROAB) is collated and transmitted to National Meteorological Centres, often within a matter of hours to aid in weather predictions.

References
Tideman, B., The Radiosonde in Australia, attached letter to Powerhouse Museum Blue File, 1992
Vaisala News, number 92, Vaisala Finland, 1981
Hopkins, E. J., 'Radiosonde; an Upper Air Probe', 1996, cited in http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~hopkins/wx-inst/wxi-raob.htm, October, 2007

Source

Credit Line

Source unknown, 1992

Acquisition Date

21 June 1992

Cite this Object

Harvard

AWA radiosonde atmospheric measuring instrument 2022, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 8 June 2023, <https://ma.as/127456>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/127456 |title=AWA radiosonde atmospheric measuring instrument |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=8 June 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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