Test Balloons To Go Up At Harewood

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 1

Test Balloons To Go Up At Harewood

A series of 100 test weather balloons will be launched from Christchurch Airport this year in a bid to find better ways of obtaining more accurate weather information from the atmosphere.

Two United States meteorologists who recently arrived in Christchurch are now preparing a pilot programme, the first of its kind in the world.

The director, Mr V. E. Lally, of Boulder, Colorado, said yesterday that if the initial balloon-testing programme proved successful, weather forecasting could be revolutionised. More accurate information would be available round the world at far less cost to countries participating in joint weather forecasting. Mr Lally said the first test balloons would be launched in mid-November, after the completion of the underground testing chamber now under construction. The first balloon sent up from the airport would be tested for durability in extreme atmospheric conditions. SECOND STAGE As soon as the meteorologists were satisfied with the quality of the balloons to withstand such conditions for periods of up to 12 months, the second stage of the project would be undertaken. This would involve the launching of balloons equipped with electronic devices capable of transmitting

observations for forecasting about temperatures, pressures, humidity, and wind field. The balloons would be interrogated by perhaps two satellites orbiting the earth at a height of 600 miles. Mr Lally said that if the previously untried system proved successful, other bal-loon-launching stations would be built round the world. This would provide global information from atmospheric observations. Only one-tenth of the earth was at present receiving information from such sources through weather satellites, which could merely take pictures of clouds without detailing humidity, pressure, wind field, or temperature. CHOICE OF SITE Asked why Christchurch had been chosen as the site for the experiment, Mr Lally said that Christchurch was located well south of the Equator, and had good internal and external transport facilities and highly suitable weather. Mr Lally said the success of the venture depended on international co-operation and the sacrifice of some countries of their sovereignty in air space.

The final number of balloons launched would be about 10,000 at varying altitudes from 20.000 ft to 80,000 ft. Some balloons would be located in international air lanes, but because of their lightness would not form any hazard to aircraft, either civil or military. Most balloons would be spherical, ranging in diameter from sft to 13ft. They would be of a strong plastic material about half the thickness of an ordinary piece of paper. COST OF PROJECT The cost of launching the first 100 balloons would be more than £20,000 for materials alone. This and the cost of the advanced stages of the project were being met by the United States Government and the New Zealand Government Mr Lally said he had been advocating the balloon system of collecting weather data for several years, but only recently had been able to win approval. He will be in Christchurch for about one year with Mr E. W. Lichfield at special quarters now being built at the aerodrome.