ESRL/GMD Ozonesondes

The ozonesonde is a lightweight, balloon-borne instrument that is mated to a conventional meteorological radiosonde. As the balloon carrying the instrument package ascends through the atmosphere, the ozonesonde telemeters to a ground receiving station information on ozone and standard meteorological quantities such as pressure, temperature and humidity. The balloon will ascend to altitudes of about 115,000 feet (35 km) before it bursts.

Measurement Technique:

Ozone Sonde
An ozonesonde
Ozone Sonde Receiving Station
Data transmission from the
ozonesonde back to receiving station.

An ozonesonde consists of a Teflon air pump and electrochemical ozone sensor interfaced to a meteorological radiosonde. The small piston pump bubbles ambient air into the sensor cell containing 3 milliliters of 1% potassium iodide solution. The reaction of ozone and iodide generates an electrical signal proportional to the amount of ozone. The radiosonde measures air temperature, pressure, relative humidity and transmits all of the ozone and weather data back to a ground receiving station during the 2 hour weather balloon ascent.


Launching an ozonesonde balloon at the South Pole
Ozone Profile
Ozone Partial Pressure profile.

Total column ozone (given in Dobson Units) is calculated by integrating the ozone partial pressure profile up to the balloon burst altitude and adding a residual amount, based on climatological ozone tables to account for ozone above the balloon burst altitude.

Polar ozonesonde profiles provide a detailed vertical measurement of ozone that can be made during low sun angle and dark time periods, when satellite ozone observations are limited. However, the cold, dark winter time will reduce the altitude burst elevation of the rubber weather balloons.



Data

Data is available here.

Ozonesonde Sites