Spatial Coverage 2.3 Temporal Coverage 2.4 Resolution 1. Wind speed and direction can be determined from additional windfinding equipment .
Information is transmitted to the surface as a radio signal.
The ground station equipment receives the signal and processes the data. The balloon bursts at a height of 20 to 30km and the radiosonde is returned safely to the surface by means of a small parachute. The Radiosonde type used by the Met Office The RS80 radiosonde, manufactured by the Finnish company Vaisala, has been routinely used in the UK since 1981. Powered by a water activated battery, the instrument takes measurements at approximately 1.3 second intervals during the ascent. A schematic diagram of the layout of the RS80 is shown in figure 2 .