In 1833, British meteorologist E.D. Archibold used kites to lift anemometers to measure wind speed at different altitudes. This approach greatly improved the weather forecasting of the day. He accomplished this feat by setting off small explosive charges to release the camera shutter. Aerial shots allow people to view an object or a specific site from a distance and to get a general overview of the surrounding area. Kite aerial photography has aided military reconnaissance, disaster assessment, and scientific surveys.
Kites remain an inexpensive way to get overhead shots of archeological sites.
Visit mywave, Riverdeep's student area, to see a special animated feature about kites. Earth's gravity pulls everything toward Earth. The heavier the kite, the harder it is to fly. The force that stops a kite from falling to the ground is called lift. It is produced by air moving over the top of the curved surface of the kite more quickly than the air passing underneath.