radiosonde

[rey-dee-oh-sond]

noun Meteorology.

an instrument that is carried aloft by a balloon to send back information on atmospheric temperature, pressure, and humidity by means of a small radio transmitter.

Compare rawinsonde

Origin of radiosonde

First recorded in 1935–40; radio- + sonde

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for radiosonde

radiosonde

noun

an airborne instrument used to send meteorological information back to earth by radioAlso called: radiometeorograph

Word Origin for radiosonde

C20: radio- + French sonde sounding line

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

radiosonde in Science

radiosonde

[rā′dē-ō-sŏnd′]

An instrument that is carried into the atmosphere by a balloon, makes measurements of temperature, air pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction, and transmits the measurements back to the ground. A radiosonde is typically sent to altitudes of approximately 30 km (18.6 mi). There are approximately 70 radiosonde stations across the continental United States. Each station launches two radiosondes daily.