General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

synthetic parachute and disk/ cord

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

71.0 cm

Width

23.0 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

2.5 cm

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Meteorology

Category

Lifting & flying apparatus

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Japan

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

this instrument was apparently in use for ten years (Ref. 6)

Canada

An example of a radiosonde parachute of a type used by the Meteorological Service of Canada. Parachutes are used at seven of the thirty one radiosonde stations in Canada. These are the most southerly stations (Ref. 1). Part of a large collection of meteorological instruments acquired from the Meteorological Service of Canada (previously Atmospheric Environment Service) by the CSTM since 1967. MSC is the government agency responsible for collecting and disseminating meteorological data and forecasts in Canada. It was founded in 1871 in Toronto where it is still headquartered. The MSC was originally on the University of Toronto downtown campus but moved to Downsview in 1971 on land owned by UofT. The headquarters houses laboratories, research facilities and calibration and instrument maintenance facilities (now largely contracted out).

Function

Used with a radiosonde lifted by balloon into the upper atmosphere. When the balloon reaches a certain level in the atmosphere (usually approx. 30 km), it bursts, causing the radiosonde to fall back to earth, safely suspended from the parachute.

Technical

A Viz radiosonde parachute. The parachute reduces the fall rate to reduce any damage to persons or property when they land. The newest radiosondes are very light and the fall rate as they approach the ground is quite low, approaching 5 m/s, according to one source (Ref. 1). The parachute is part of the radiosonde balloon train (see Refs. 3-4): a specified length of cord is tied to the balloon and the top of the parachute; another specified length of card is tied to the bottom of the parachute and the radiosonde itself. The balloon is released and the assemblage is lifted into the air until the balloon bursts, at which time the parachute and radiosonde descend to earth. While the balloon ascends (about 90 minutes), the radiosonde takes readings of the temperature, pressure and humidity which are transmitted to a ground station for analysis (Refs. 2-3).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

small blue label with white lettering reading 'Made in Japan'

Missing

appears complete

Finish

white

Decoration

N/A