A balloon used to carry instruments aloft to gather meteorological data in the atmosphere. Weather balloons are tracked by radar, Global Positioning System, or theodolites. The balloon itself usually contains devices to measure temperature, pressure and humidity, although it can contain specialized devices to measure the ozone in the ozone layer. Filled with hydrogen or helium gas, weather balloons can reach 35 km (22 mi) in altitude before disintegrating due to the decreased pressure of the lower stratosphere.
