Empirical Comparisons of Meteorological Rocket Wind Sensors

Abstract

Graphical comparisons of the wind responses of several meteorological rocket sensors are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the contemporary systems to the problem of measuring winds at altitudes in excess of those attainable by normal balloon techniques. Data are presented for component winds derived from chaff, parachutes, spheres and standard radiosondes. To avoid masking the basic data, response corrections have not been applied. These data indicate that the parachute and sphere provide a generally acceptable accuracy to 200,000 ft without application of fall-rate corrections, while optimized chaff is expected to provide acceptable data to 250,000 ft.