Frequently asked questions
Weather balloons, also known as sounding or meteorological balloons, are used in a variety of capacities by the scientific community to gain valuable information about the atmosphere. Weather balloons are a vital part of daily weather forecasting, storm prediction and upper atmosphere wind measurement.
To determine the right balloon for your flight goals, you'll need to know your payload weight, target altitude and lifting gas of choice. Balloons should be launched with a target ascent rate of 5m/s for optimal performance. For a general idea of balloon altitude capabilities, use the habhub calculator below, inputting your payload weight and setting your ascent rate to 5m/s. Leave the target altitude blank and flip through our balloons in the drop-down menu.
All of our weather balloons are 100% biodegradable natural latex. Unlike metallic nylon or neoprene (party) balloons, our balloons completely biodegrade within 24-36 months in all conditions. Within 24 months, our balloons are completely homogenous with soil. Our balloons are not made with any preservatives, harmful chemicals, petroleum, neoprene, plastic or metal, drastically reducing their footprint on the land and sea. Additionally, our balloons are manufactured with such precision that a proper burst will always result in a balloon shattering. The hundreds of tiny latex pieces will fall back to Earth and begin degrading instantly, enhanced by the additional surface area of hundreds of small pieces. Unlike party balloons which may tear along a seam and come back down to land whole, our balloons will always be completely unrecognizable once their fragments return to the ground. We take our impact on the environment seriously, and although our balloons do take a little time to completely biodegrade, they are hundreds to thousands times faster than any other high altitude balloons. We are proud that over the course of 40 years of soundings, our balloons have always experienced a revolving-door 24-36 month biodegradation period, and a negligible long term effect on the environment.
Kaymont weather balloons are launched daily by the National Weather Service with a radiosonde payload. The radiosonde can be collected and recycled. All NWS radiosondes include return shipping instructions.
Could be either. Weather balloons in flight can travel at great speeds due to high winds at altitude, and their payloads may be reflective or have lights on them. Weather balloons can "disappear" and "reappear" behind clouds that are tough to see from the ground. Weather balloons can appear spherical, or slightly oblong due to their rate of lift. Weather balloons, when properly inflated and launched, will rise at a steady rate to their burst altitude, and their payloads will return to the ground via parachute. You cannot be abducted by a weather balloon.