NZ Weather Forum

Just read an article by Bob Evans (Radiosondes in NZ, Break In March/April 2016) where the author indicated that only Invercargill is still using it's radar to track balloons. Once their stock of Vaisala RS92-K's is used up later this year, they too will be switching to GPS based and will no longer be taking their weather radar offline to track balloons. They do not use balloons capable of reaching the highest altitudes as the winds aloft are too strong and damage them. An interesting read. The batteries they use are 18 Volt Magnesium/Cuprous Chloride that last approx 2 hours and emit Hydrogen Sulphide (rotten egg smell).