Which device is described as a balloon that measures atmospheric characteristics such as temperature, pressure, and humidity as it moves through the air?

• A. A satellite that measures atmospheric temperature
• B. A balloon that measures atmospheric characteristics, such as temperature, pressure, and humidity as it moves through the air
• C. A radar-equipped drone that samples wind
• D. A ground-based weather station instrument

Answer: (B)

This describes using a weather balloon carrying a radiosonde to take in-situ measurements as it ascends. The radiosonde carries sensors for temperature, air pressure, and humidity, and it transmits the readings back to the ground as the balloon rises through different atmospheric layers. This vertical profiling is essential for understanding how these properties change with altitude and for informing weather forecasts and climate studies. Satellites measure many things from space, but they don’t provide the same direct, vertical profile of the atmosphere that a radiosonde on a balloon does. Ground-based stations measure near-surface conditions only, and a radar-equipped drone would sample winds in a different way. So the described device is a weather balloon with a radiosonde.