The Upper Air Instrumentation Research Project (UAIRP) group at Wallops Flight Facility of the GSFC has been involved with upper atmosphere instrumentation studies for a number of years. The facility is 5-10 km east of major airlanes. This location makes it ideal to engage in upper air balloon and rocket-borne instrumentation research. The availability of high precision tracking radars and excellent telemetry receiving systems along with data reduction facilities and skilled personnel enable upper air meteorological instrument studies to be carried out without too many interruptions. A variety of balloons including small rubber to large plastic balloons, capable of reaching 43 km altitude, are available in order to tailor design tests to reach specific altitudes. Rocket- and balloon-borne meteorological instruments are used for many purposes, such as the validation of remote sensing techniques, the development of new sensor techniques, comparisons of different instrument types, those used locally and internationally. Accurate altitudes and wind information are obtainable from precision radar tracking. Other parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, and ozone are gathered for other atmospheric studies. Special instrumentation is developed or specified, as needed, in order to enhance the research ability of the UAIRP group. New techniques developed by various manufacturers are periodically tested and unique software developed, as necessary. A brief description of the typical instrumentation studies carried out is given.
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