Unmanned meteorological balloon, transports ultra-light optical miniature spectrometer with large spectral detection range to great heights

摘要

An unmanned meteorological balloon transports atmospheric sampling devices into the earth's atmosphere with a transmitter which radios data back to an earth-based receiver. The balloon instruments include an ultra-light optical miniature spectrometer with a large spectral detection range. The instruments determine the vertical concentration and distribution of gases. The instruments further include a temperature probe (26). The spectrometer is used in conjunction with a grid which refracts sunlight into a spectrum and uses prior art knowledge about the solar spectrum and the radiation absorption of different gases. During flight the balloon altitude and position are reported by a transponder (14). The meteorological instrument package includes a temperature regulation device (27).