Applications / Operational Meteorology
Operational Meteorology
Weather at the surface is shaped by conditions in the atmosphere above us. Understanding upper-air patterns is essential to forecasting the weather and its impacts on the ground.
Turning a balloon ascent into operational intelligence
The sounding follows the atmosphere vertically, revealing changes that surface stations cannot see.
Launch
The iMet-54-AA ascends beneath a meteorological balloon.
Measure
Temperature, humidity and GNSS-derived position and wind are sampled throughout the ascent.
Receive
The iMet-3400 captures the 403 MHz telemetry stream at the ground station.
Use
Quality-controlled profiles support forecasters, warnings and numerical models.
Two products. One continuous sounding.
A compact ground receiver and a lightweight GNSS radiosonde form the core of the operational upper-air system.
iMet-3400 Antenna / Receiver
A compact 403 MHz receiving system designed to track and acquire radiosonde telemetry for routine upper-air operations.
iMet-54-AA GNSS Radiosonde
A new-generation 403 MHz radiosonde measuring temperature and humidity, with multi-constellation GNSS for wind and altitude.
Forecast uncertainty reduction over Africa in WMO-commissioned observation impact experiments.
Read the WMO evidence →The weather is three-dimensional. Forecasting should be too.
Initialize forecast models
Vertical profiles help define the atmosphere’s starting state—the foundation of numerical weather prediction.
Recognize severe-weather potential
Temperature and moisture through the atmosphere reveal instability, inversions and layers linked to storms and fog.
Support aviation forecasts
Observed winds and thermodynamic structure inform turbulence, icing, cloud and flight-level guidance.
Strengthen the global network
Shared soundings fill observational gaps and improve forecasts beyond the station and across national borders.