"With the new radiosonde family, Vaisala brings a new powerful platform for upper air measurements. It will secure our position as the supplier of premium class products and further strengthen our global market leadership in the upper air sounding applications", comments Pekka Ketonen, CEO and President of Vaisala.
The new Vaisala Radiosondes RS92 represent new technology. They are lightweight, compact and easy to operate. They include an all-digital, code correlating GPS (Global Positioning System) wind finding technology. They are built using Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and modular electronics technology, which serve as a configurable platform for forthcoming product improvements and technologies. The new Vaisala radiosonde will gradually replace the older versions.
The Vaisala Group is a successful international technology company that develops and manufactures electronic measurement systems and equipment for meteorology, environmental sciences, traffic safety and industry. Vaisala employs over 1,200 professionals and achieved net sales of EUR 183.5 million in 2001. Vaisala serves customers throughout the world. In 2001, exports accounted for 96% of net sales. Vaisala's A-series shares are quoted on the Helsinki Exchanges (HEX).
Background information:
Radiosondes are meteorological devices that are launched from the ground. They are used to measure pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction in the upper atmosphere. Ozone and radioactivity in the upper atmosphere can also be measured. A balloon filled with hydrogen or helium gas carries the radiosonde into the upper atmosphere. During its ascent, the radiosonde continuously transmits data to automated receiving ground equipment. This sounding system processes and converts the data into meteorological weather messages that are sent on to the global weather network. When the radiosonde reaches an altitude of approximately 30 km, the balloon bursts and the radiosonde falls back to earth along with its string, spool and burst balloon.
The Vaisala Sounding Systems are used by national meteorological institutes, research organizations, defence forces and other organizations that observe the weather in the upper atmosphere.