As you watched in the Ohio Math Works video, a weather balloon is a helium-inflated balloon that is launched several times a day and carries instruments that take critical readings in the atmosphere. These balloons help scientists measure temperature, dew point and relative humidity, wind speed and direction. This is all done at different points, or layers, in the atmosphere. The balloon can be tethered to the ground, or it can be a free-flying balloon.

A free-flying weather balloon rises an average of 1000 feet per minute. The balloon will usually burst about 100,000 feet above ground because of atmospheric pressure. If the balloon is carrying weather instruments that need to return to earth, a small parachute can be attached to the instruments.

Weather balloons worldwide are generally released when it is midnight and noon in London, England. They are a cost-effective way to collect airborne data and just one of many tools used in forecasting the weather

Additional information on weather balloons can be found in the links section of the Ohio Math Works web site.

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