Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) Version 2 consists of quality-controlled radiosonde observations of temperature, humidity, and wind at stations across all continents. Data are drawn from more than 30 different sources. The earliest year of data is 1905, and the data are updated on a daily basis. Record length, vertical extent and resolution, and availability of variables varies among stations and over time. In addition to the merged and quality-controlled set of soundings, several supplementary products are included: sounding-derived moisture and stability parameters for each suitable sounding; monthly means at mandatory pressure levels; the Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC) in which post-1997 data are based on IGRA 2; and station history information derived from documented changes in instruments and observing practice as well as from instrument codes received along with the sounding data. The change to Version 2.2 includes two additional data streams which permits further updating of the IGRA data records that use the new BUFR format. Version 2.2 began in 2023.

Please note, this dataset has been superseded by a newer version (see below). Users should not use this version except in rare cases (e.g., when reproducing previous studies that used this version). Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive is a digital data set archived at the former National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), now National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). This dataset contains monthly means of geopotential height, temperature, zonal wind, and meridional wind derived from the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA). IGRA consists of radiosonde and pilot balloon observations at over 1500 globally distributed stations, and monthly means are available for the surface and mandatory levels at many of these stations. The period of record varies from station to station, with many extending from 1970 to 2016. Monthly means are computed separately for the nominal times of 0000 and 1200 UTC, considering data within two hours of each nominal time. A mean is provided, along with the number of values used to calculate it, whenever there are at least 10 values for a particular station, month, nominal time, and level.

The Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (BUFR) is a binary data format maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In 2015 part of the US upper air stations began to include the high resolution radiosonde measurement in their data package sent to the NCEI. These high resolution BUFR files have names as Cnnn, where nnn represents ascension number. The BUFR includes 1) metadata: station information, instrument information, balloon release information; 2) up to 1-second observations: elapsed time, level type, location displacement, pressure, height, temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed, wind direction. Time coverage is September 2015 to present, spatial coverage is US CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and territories.

This data set contains rawinsonde profiles from 63 National Weather Service (NWS) upper-air sites archived during the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) for the tier-3 area. During NAME, rawinsondes were released twice daily at 00 and 12 UTC with more released during the IOPs. The data files consist of vertical profiles of temperature, dew point, relative humidity, u and v wind components, total wind speed, wind direction, and altitude. The vertical resolution is six seconds. This data set has been quality controlled by The Joint Office of Science Support (JOSS). Consult the README for more information. NOTE: This data set has been corrected as of 23 March 2010 for a significant dry bias. Only the following 5 stations were corrected: Amarillo, TX (KAMA), El Paso, TX/Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), Flagstaff, AZ (KFGZ), Midland, TX (KMAF), and Tucson, AZ (KTUS). See the documentation file for details on the correction(s) applied to this data set. Also see Ciesielski et al 2009 in JTECH.

This data set includes the BUFR format radiosonde data that were received via the GTS feed at NCAR/EOL for stations around the world. The data are a mix of the mandatory and significant level TEMP message data in BUFR format and the high vertical resolution (typically 1 or 2 second) BUFR data. Not all global stations transmit their data in BUFR format and some only transmit one or the other of the two BUFR forms.

This is a dataset of high resolution upper air soundings collected by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (BUFR) format. The parameters and metadata captured at each level contain time displacement, latitude displacement, longitude displacement, geopotential height, pressure, temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed, wind direction, level significance (flags). Many reports are at 2-second resolution ~3500 levels for a full ascent, some are at 1-second resolution: ~7000 levels (but we have seen up to 14500 levels). Few observations in this data set are at low resolution (standard+significant levels). That data are from Oct 2, 2014 - present, updated monthly. In 2003, the WMO members approved a migration from traditional alphanumeric codes (TAC)to table driven code forms (TDCF) BUFR for data distribution on the Global Telecommunications System (GTS). The TDCF BUFR, also known as just BUFR, is a binary data format maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Compared with the traditional alphanumeric codes (TAC), the BUFR offers great advantages of flexibility and expandability, allowing for the dissemination of much higher vertical resolution with the reporting of the time and position at each level and extra metadata. The Commission agreed on the deadline of November 2014 to stop the parallel distribution of TAC and BUFR data. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has maintained an archive of global radiosonde BUFR data since October of 2014, which will complement NCEI's real-time archiving of National Weather Service (NWS) BUFR stream commencing in May of 2017.

Surface temperatures and thickness-derived temperatures from a 54-station, globally distributed radiosonde network have been used to estimate global, hemispheric, and zonal annual and seasonal temperature deviations. Most of the temperature values used were column-mean temperatures, obtained from the differences in height (thickness) between constant-pressure surfaces at individual radiosonde stations. The pressure-height data before 1980 were obtained from published values in Monthly Climatic Data for the World. Between 1980 and 1990, Angell used data from both the Climatic Data for the World and the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) Network received at the National Meteorological Center. Between 1990 and 1995, the data were obtained only from GTS, and since 1995 the data have been obtained from National Center for Atmospheric Research files. The data are evaluated as deviations from the mean based on the interval 1961-1990. Time series for the earth's surface, and the 850-300mb, 300-100mb and 100-50mb layers are presented for north polar (60-90N), north temperate (30-60N), tropical (30S-30N), south temperate (30-60S) and south polar (60-90S) climate zones, as well as for the Northern and Southern hemispheres and the globe. The data presentation is more compact than in the case of Angell's 63-station network, with two fewer layers and three fewer climate zones, for a total of eight time series.CITE AS: Angell, J.K. 2012. Global, hemispheric, and zonal temperature deviations derived from a 54-station radiosonde network. In Trends Online: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. doi: 10.3334/CDIAC/cli.005

SondeHub Radiosonde telemetry contains global radiosonde (weather balloon) data captured by SondeHub from our participating radiosonde_auto_rx receiving stations. radiosonde_auto_rx is a open source project aimed at receiving and decoding telemetry from airborne radiosondes using software-defined-radio techniques, enabling study of the telemetry and sometimes recovery of the radiosonde itself. Currently 313 receiver stations are providing data for an average of 384 radiosondes a day. The data within this repository contains received telemetry frames, including radiosonde type, gps position, and for some radiosondes atmospheric sensor data (temperature, humidity, pressure). As the downlinked telemetry does not always contain calibration information, any atmospheric sensor data should be considered to be uncalibrated. Note that radiosonde_auto_rx does not have sensor data support for all radiosonde types.

According to Cognitive Market Research, The Global Radiosonde market size will expand at a compound yearly growth rate (CAGR) of 4.20% from 2023 to 2030.

The demand for Radiosondes is increasing focus on sustainability.
Demand for weather forecasting and atmospheric research in the Radiosonde market.
The long-range and meteorological category held the highest Radiosonde market revenue share in 2023.
North America will continue to lead, whereas the Asia Pacific Radiosonde market will experience the most substantial growth until 2030.

Increase Demand for Weather Forecasting and Atmospheric Research to Provide Viable Market Output

The global radiosonde market is experiencing a notable upswing in demand, primarily fueled by the increasing need for accurate weather forecasting and extensive atmospheric research. Radiosondes, equipped with sensors, are pivotal in gathering crucial meteorological data, aiding in the analysis of atmospheric conditions. With a rising emphasis on climate monitoring and disaster preparedness, the demand for radiosondes has surged. Key players are innovating to enhance data precision and transmission capabilities. This growing reliance on meteorological insights for diverse applications positions the radiosonde market for sustained growth, driven by its integral role in advancing weather prediction accuracy and facilitating comprehensive atmospheric studies.

For instance, in October 2023, collaboration with Weather Forecasting Agencies: Radiosonde manufacturers are partnering with weather forecasting agencies to develop customized solutions and ensure seamless integration with existing meteorological systems. This collaboration aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of weather predictions.

(Source: www.ncmrwf.gov.in/annual-reports-pdf/NCMRWF_Annual-Report_2022-2023.pdf)

Technological Advancement to Propel Market Growth

The global radiosonde market is poised for growth, driven by rapid technological advancements. Innovations such as enhanced sensor capabilities, miniaturization, and improved data transmission systems are propelling market expansion. Radiosondes, used for atmospheric measurements in weather forecasting and research, benefit from these technological upgrades, resulting in more accurate and real-time data collection. These advancements enhance the efficiency and reliability of radiosondes, contributing to increased adoption worldwide. As meteorological applications continue to evolve, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is anticipated to play a pivotal role in sustaining the growth momentum of the global Radiosonde market.

For instance, in August 2023, Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Al technologies are being incorporated into radiosonde systems to optimize data collection, analysis, and forecasting capabilities. Al algorithms help identify patterns, improve predictive models, and enhance the overall efficiency of radiosonde operations.

(Source: www.researchgate.net/publication/373014339_Integration_of_artificial_intelligence_and_video_surveillance_technology_to_monitor_construction_equipment)

Market Dynamics of the Radiosonde

Airborne Meteorological Instruments to Restrict Market Growth

A key restraint impacting the global radiosonde market is the increasing use of airborne meteorological instruments, which poses a challenge to market growth. These sophisticated instruments, such as weather balloons equipped with advanced sensors, provide comprehensive atmospheric data without the limitations of radiosondes. The adoption of more integrated and precise airborne solutions diminishes the demand for traditional radiosondes, affecting market expansion. As meteorological technology evolves, the market must navigate the competitive landscape posed by alternative instruments, emphasizing the need for innovation and adaptation to sustain growth in the face of this significant restraint.

Impact of COVID–19 on the Radiosonde Market

The global Radiosonde market faced disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns and restrictions impeded manufacturing processes and supply chains, causing delays in production and distribution. The reduced workforce availability further impacted the market. However, the pandemic underscored the importance of meteorological data for tracking virus spread, creating a surge in demand for radiosondes for weather forecasting and res...

This data set includes radiosonde measurements of upper air temperature and pressure, relative humidity, and wind direction and speed during the balloons' ascent to the upper atmosphere.

The NOAA Radiosonde Observations Data Set contains data that were extracted from the NOAA operational analysis system and transmitted to the FIS. Data are available from July 1985 to October 1988, there are 1123 days of data during this period with data at twelve hour intervals. These data were collected using sondes released in Dodge City and Topeka, Kansas, 337 km and 68 km, respectively, from the FIFE site. Radiosonde observations were made to determine the pressure, temperature, and humidity from the surface to the point where the sounding was terminated.

The Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC) consist of time series of radiosonde-based temperature anomalies for the years 1958-present in which the temporal inhomogeneities resulting from changes in instruments and observing practices have been reduced to the extent possible. Developed through a collaborative effort involving NOAA scientists from the Air Resources Laboratory, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and NCEI, the RATPAC time series are based on data from 85 stations distributed around global land areas and are available on 13 atmospheric pressure levels: the surface, 850, 700, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 70, 50, and 30 hPa. Two sub-products, RATPAC-A and RATPAC-B, were derived using different approaches to meet this need based largely in part on the Temporal Homogenization of Monthly Radiosonde Temperature Data (LKS) bias-adjusted dataset. RATPAC-A contains adjusted global, hemispheric, tropical, and extratropical mean temperature anomalies. From 1958 through 1995, the bases of the data are on spatial averages of LKS adjusted 87-station temperature data. After 1995, they are based on the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) station data, combined using a first difference method. RATPAC-B contains data for individual stations as well as large-scale arithmetic averages corresponding to areas used for RATPAC-A. The station data consist of adjusted data produced by LKS for the period 1958-1997 and unadjusted data from IGRA after 1997. The regional mean time series in RATPAC-B are based on arithmetic averaging of these station data, rather than the first difference method used to create RATPAC-A. The difference between this version and the original version of RATPAC is that the IGRA component of Version 2 is taken from IGRA v2 rather than IGRA v1.

The radiosonde takes measurements at intervals of approximately 2 seconds. The high resolution data files contain all such data. The standard resolution data files contain measurements taken at standard and significant pressure levels of the atmosphere. Standard global radiosonde data is available from 1997 onwards.

          The data consists of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature,
          relative humidity, humidity mixing ratio, sonde position, wind speed
          and wind direction. Measurements are taken at 2 second intervals and
          the ascents extend to heights of approximately 20-30km. Two subsets of
          data are avaliable.

          Data from Aberporth (on the west coast of Wales) is available from
          April 1990 - present - At least one ascent per day up until April
          1996, 4 ascents per day thereafter. This data was obtained to support
          the work with the MST radar at Aberystwyth.

          Data from other UK stations is starting to arrive. Generally there are
          4 ascents per day from each station. The archive will have around 10
          stations with data from the 1990's.

          Link to the data set home page:
          http://badc.nerc.ac.uk/home/index.html

          [Summary Extracted from the BADC Home Page]

Atmospheric profile measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure and wind speed from radiosonde (Vaisala RS92) weather balloons. Data also include calculated parameters (potential temperature, equivalent potential temperature, etc.). The dataset enables analysis of the atmospheric structure in the central Arctic. Data were incorporated into the GTS global forecast system immediately following the completion of each profile. Radiosondes were launched every 6 hours from icebreaker Oden during the Arctic Ocean 2018 (AO2018, also referred to as MOCCHA-ACAS-ICE) expedition to the central Arctic Ocean in August and September 2018. Data are interpolated to a common vertical axis with uniform (10 m) spacing. Merged radiosonde files including calculated data (potential temperature, equivalent potential temperature, etc.). Data are interpolated to a common vertical axis with 10 m steps. Humidity was corrected on profiles where the radiosonde selected the wrong (heated) humidity sensor. Soundings where the normal EDT files (standard Vaisala processed file) stopped too early, due to a loss of the GPS signal, were recovered from the buffer files. Due to the loss of the GPS signal wind data are not available beyond the heights where the normal EDT file stopped. Radiosonde data were uploaded to the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) during the expedition. Data processing performed by Jutta Vuellers, Institute for Climate & Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom. Radiosondes were operated by Michael Tjernström, John Prytherch (MISU), Peggy Achtert (University of Reading), Ian Brooks, Grace Porter and Mike Adams (ICAS, University of Leeds). The sounding system was provided by the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) Atmospheric Measurement Facility (AMF). NCAS AMF should be acknowledged in any publication making use of this data.

Met Office high resolution (2 second) radiosonde data from the Albemarle, Northumbria, from 2002 to present. The data consist of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, relative humidity, humidity mixing ratio, sonde position, wind speed and wind direction. Measurements are taken at 2 second intervals and the ascents extend to heights of approximately 20-30 km.

This is one of the upper air data sets developed for the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry Project (DC3) 2012 project. This data set includes 238 high vertical resolution (2-sec) soundings from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) Central Facility (C1) near Lamont, Oklahoma collected during the DC3 field campaign. There are typically four soundings per day at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC. These data were provided by DOE ARM.

No description found

The Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) consists of radiosonde and pilot balloon observations from more than 2,800 globally distributed stations. The earliest data date back to 1905, and recent data become available in near real time from about 800 stations worldwide. Observations are available at standard and variable pressure levels, fixed and variable-height wind levels, and the surface and tropopause. Variables include pressure, temperature, geopotential height, relative humidity, dew point depression, wind direction and speed, and elapsed time since launch. IGRA consists of three components: Individual soundings, organized into one file per station Monthly means, organized into one file per variable and time of day (0000 and 1200 Coordinated Universal Time) Sounding-derived parameters, organized into one file per station NCEI also provides access to IGRA station metadata that can be helpful for interpreting data. They include current station names and locations as well as

Met Office high resolution (2 second) radiosonde data from the Castor Bay airfield, Northern Ireland from 2002 to present. The data consist of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, relative humidity, humidity mixing ratio, sonde position, wind speed and wind direction. Measurements are taken at 2 second intervals and the ascents extend to heights of approximately 20-30 km.

The global radiosonde data contains meteorological values measured at intervals of approximately 2 seconds. The data are reported up to twice daily (at 0000 and 1200 UTC). The data is collected by worldwide observation stations and transmitted within TEMP and PILOT messages. The dataset contains measurements of pressure, temperature, and wind speed and direction.