High-Altitude Minimum-Wind Fields and Balloon Applications

摘要

During the summer months, a relatively stable layer of minimum winds exists in the lower stratosphere above the North American continent between latitudes 25N and 65N. Within the layer there are levels where the wind speed is close to zero. These phenomena can be utilized for balloon operations that require flights of long duration with minimum horizontal displacement from a fixed geographic location, and for high-altitude tethered-balloon operations that require float altitudes where dynamic pressure is minimum. (Author)