iMS-100 GPS Radiosonde

GPS radiosonde is an Upper-air sounding instrument to measure various types of meteorological data; wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature and humidity. Wind speed, wind direction and pressure are calculated from the travel speed and altitude obtained by GPS positioning techniques. Every 1 second measured data are transmitted to ground receiving system via 400-406 MHz band.

Compact and commonly-used devices are aggressively adopted in iMS-100 to achieve downsizing (just only 38 g including one battery) and its cost reduction. iMS-100 also serves for total operation cost saving by using smaller balloon and reducing the gas amount depending on the target height. Furthermore, the lightweight package greatly enhances safety in the sounding operation even without parachute when it accidently falls down on land, especially.

Improved sensor boom achieves higher accuracy in temperature measurement. Also, newly developed high response humidity sensor enables more accurate humidity measurement even in low temperature environment (below –40℃). In addition to the advantages of cost and safety, the innovative downsizing can minimize pendulum motions and heat contamination from the sonde itself during launch, which improves the measurement performances in terms of wind and temperature.

RS-11G GPS Radiosonde

GPS radiosonde is an Upper-air sounding instrument flying with weather balloon. As the balloon ascends, radiosonde measures variety of meteorological data; wind speed, wind direction, pressure, height, temperature and humidity. Wind speed, wind direction and pressure are calculated from the travel speed and altitude obtained by GPS information. Temperature and humidity data are obtained from dedicated thermistor and electrostatic capacitance humidity sensor, respectively. Measured data are transmitted to ground receiving system every second using 400-406 MHz band.

Redesigned sensor boom achieves higher accuracy in temperature measurement. Also, newly developed high response humidity sensor enables more accurate humidity measurement even in low temperature environment. RS-11G enables various kinds of soundings through expansive interfaces, such as MTR (16 Hz temperature sampling), CFH (Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer), Radioactivity sonde, ECC Ozone sonde, Cloud Particles Sensor (CPS), etc.

RS-06G GPS Radiosonde

GPS radiosonde is an Upper-air sounding instrument for measuring various types of meteorological data; wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature and humidity.
Wind speed, wind direction and pressure are calculated from the speed of travel and altitude obtained by GPS positioning techniques; and temperature and humidity data measured from respectively tuned thermistor and electrostatic capacitance humidity sensor.

1 sec sampled GPS data and 1 or 0.5 sampled temperature / humidity data are transmitted over PCM via a TDM network. The transmitted data is automatically processed through a data processor at the surface station.
The installed PLL oscillator employs narrow FM and conforms to ETSI.

SKYDEW Chilled-mirror hygrometer

SKYDEW is Peltier-based chilled-mirror hygrometer which accurately measures the amount of atmospheric water vapor based on the thermodynamic measurement principle. It can provide accurate water vapor; the size and density of frost/dew in the troposphere and even stratosphere without contaminating atmospheric condition by CHF3. Since refrigerant is no longer used, SKYDEW has a low environmental impact and is easy to handle.

CPS sonde
(Cloud Particle Sensor)

CPS (Cloud Particle Sensor), combined with GPS radiosonde, provides in-situ cloud measurements including vertical distribution of cloud particles (number density, size, and the phase (water cloud-ice clouds)/shape) in addition to the fundamental meteorological elements (Temperature, Humidity, Height and Wind direction/velocity).

CPS collects ambient air samples through its duct during radiosonde’s ascent and measures floating particles with light scattering method by using one linearly polarized light source and two photodiode detectors. One detector directly measures the scattered light from the particle, and the other detects the polarization components of the scattered light.

CPS sonde is compatible with MEISEI standard GPS sonde ground system (RD-08AC) and software (MGPS-R). Output data include the number of counts per second, scattered light intensity and degree of polarization, which provide us with number density, particle size and the phase (water cloud-ice clouds)/shape of cloud particles.

HYVIS : HYdrometeor VideoSonde

Balloon borne HYVIS is in-situ measuring instrument to capture Upper-air cloud and/or ice crystal particles. HIVIS, connected with a GPS radiosonde, takes in ambient particles with sizes ranging from a few dozen μm to hundreds μm during ascension. Collected particles are attached to transparent film and then particle images are captured using two different cameras (microscope and close-up) alternately.

The captured video signals (images) are transmitted to ground HYVIS receiver system using 1680 MHz*1 radio telemetry. Antennas of the receiver system are controlled by GPS positioning information obtained from GPS radiosonde and hence automatically chase the flying HYVIS, which facilitates easy flight operation and minimizes tracking failure. The video images captured provide cloud property (shape, size, and number concentration) of sampling particles with vertical profile.

HYVIS has been using for in-situ cloud observations (microphysical properties in cloud), validation for classification of cloud particles by polarimetric radar, and numerical model simulation.

*1) Applicable Radio Laws/Regulations should be complied with.

Radioactivity sonde

Radioactivity Sonde consists of radioactivity sensor and GPS radiosonde, which enables to measure the vertical profile of both β and γ radiations together with temperature, humidity, height, wind speed and wind direction. The intensity of β and γ radiations are detected during radiosonde’s ascent and transmitted to the ground receiver system as a pulse count value per one second.

Two types of Geiger Muller tube (GM tube) are installed. One detects γ ray and the other is for β and γ rays. Measured pulse count values can be converted to other units (e.g., mR/h) assuming source of radiation is Cs-137.

Ground receiver RD-08AC and sounding software MGPS-R supports Radioactivity sonde operation.

Additionally, γ radiation spectrum can be measured by connecting Spectrum meter (option) with 512 channels per one minute.

MTR-08 Temperature Reference Sensor for Upper-air

Temperature reference sensor(MTR-08) is sonde with a fine tungsten wire (10 um diameter) for temperature measurement.

The response is 5/1000sec on surface and 40/1000sec at around 30km altitude. The response is 40times faster than conventional radiosonde.

The fine wire has the aluminum coating and the heating by solar radiation at 30km altitude is less than 0.5k. A reliable temperature data can be acquired.

MDSS : Dropsonde Receiving System

This system is an Upper-air meteorological observation instrument which measures a vertical profile of Upper-air atmosphere using a dropsonde. Dropsonde will be dropped from the aircraft and will transmit temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and GPS information on the carrier wave of the 400 MHz meteorological band. This system is installed in the aircraft, receives and demodulates this carrier wave, and visually displays transmission data.

MEISEI’s dropsonde (iMDS-17) is lighter than the previous dropsonde that measurement can be performed without parachute. This dropsonde also can be dropped from the shooter on the air craft since a parachute is no longer needed.

As of 2017, in Japan, Gulfstream-II(G-Ⅱ) operated by Diamond Air Service (DAS) is equipped with the drop sonde receiving system and is contributing to typhoon observation.

MCD-10 CO2 Sonde

The world-first balloon-born CO2 sonde, the combination with GPS radiosonde and small NDIR type CO2 sensor, was developed to measure the vertical profile of CO2. CO2 sonde can be operated with conventional weather balloon regardless of the observation site (e.g., isolated areas or remote islands), weather condition and time (day/night).

CO2 concentration is measured in the troposphere (0—10 km) with about 300 m vertical resolution. Adoption of NDIR senor facilitates easy preparation for preflight and operation. Furthermore, the embedded two reference gases achieve high measurement accuracy of less than 1ppm.

CO2 sonde has been utilized for 1) Validation with other observation method such as aircraft, tower or satellite (GOSAT etc.), 2) Evaluation of CO2 absorption/emission in the forest, or 3) Long-term CO2monitoring for climate change prediction and global warming prevention activity, etc.

GPS Radiosonde Ground Receiver System RD-18

RD-18 receiver is mounted on antenna pole. RD-18 receives signal of the radiosonde, demodulates the signal, sends measured data to indoor PC by an Ethernet cable. RD-18 consumes less power and it is powered from PoE injector by an Ethernet cable. By selecting the PoE injector compatible with each country’s power supply, it can be used in any power supply environment. RD-18 has backup capacitor inside, so it keeps working against momentary power failure. RD-18 also sends HK data (lock status, inside temperature and the status of power supply) to PC. RD-18 has other basic functions, such as antenna switcher, narrow 8ch band pass filter, AFC/MFC and real time spectrum measurement.

RD-08AC GPS Sounding System

GPS Radiosonde Sounding System RD-08, Full code correlating GPS radiosonde ground station ensures capturing reliable and accurate Upper-air weather.

This lightweight and compact sounding system is intended for increased portability and conveniences in sounding. Your sounding experiences will be extended more than ever.

The corresponding GPS radiosonde, RS-11G carries a temperature sensor and humidity sensor. Pressure is calculated from the GPS altitude measured by single point positioning. Sounding duration lasts 180 minutes, allowing vast stretches of sounding possibilities. Abundant choices of interfaces expand the use of supplemental sensors.

Automated Radiosonde system (ARS)

Canister type ARS automatically launches radiosondes iMS100 and acquires Upper-air sounding data. ARS can release operators from mid-night-early morning sounding, dangerous H2 gas inflating works, frequent trouble shooting, balloon launching in windy condition, and limited loading number of radiosonde and balloon. Canister type ARS allows to adjust the number of Radiosonde & balloon to be loaded. 4 to 40pcs of iMS100 & balloon can be set to the Canister module. ARS is remotely monitored and controlled.

Advanced observation system POTEKA

POTEKA is a compact weather sensor system. POTEKA is a community based observation system that aims to provide information on countermeasures appropriate for the weather conditions on the spot with real-time analysis and information distribution by collecting pinpoint weather information in a small area. POTEKA is applicable to various fields, including disaster prevention, health measures such as for heatstroke and influenza, teaching material at schools, safety of children at schools, agriculture, medical care, energy, and comfortable living environment.