radiosonde

noun

ra·​dio·​sonde ˈrā-dē-ō-ˌsänd 

plural radiosondes

: a miniature radio transmitter that is carried aloft (as by an unpiloted balloon) with instruments for sensing and broadcasting atmospheric conditions

Examples of radiosonde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Russia once tried to cut its radiosonde launches in half, from January to April 2015, and European forecasters saw a decline in their model’s forecast quality. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025

The more radiosondes are reduced or suspended, the more noticeable the forecast skill reduction becomes. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

Typically, the agency launches the balloons, which are outfitted with weather instruments known as radiosondes, twice a day. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Part of the Atmospheric River Reconnaissance program, another of Scripps, involves launching radiosondes in different areas of the state, collecting information to predict better the structure and landfall of atmospheric rivers. —Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025

The Yuba County project also benefits in advanced insight into the amounts of snow versus rain that falls during a storm that the radiosondes and other weather instruments capture. —Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025

Each one carried an instrument package called a radiosonde, which measures temperature, location, humidity, wind direction and wind speed. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2024

How to launch a weather balloon The balloon launching operation was simple and low-tech, consisting of the balloon, a zip tie to seal the balloon's end, a plastic spool of string, a hose for the helium tank and the transmitting device, called a radiosonde. —Jack Armstrong, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2024

Schumann was motivated to improve radiosondes and weather balloons during a visit to a local meteorology museum. —IEEE Spectrum, 19 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for radiosonde

• correspond
• eurobond
• abscond
• beyond
• despond
• respond
• awned
• blond
• blonde
• bond
• conned
• dawned

Kids Definition

radiosonde

noun

ra·​dio·​sonde ˈrād-ē-ō-ˌsänd 

: a miniature radio transmitter that is carried aloft (as by a balloon) with instruments for sensing and broadcasting atmospheric conditions