National Weather Service Upper-air Balloon Ascent Rates 

Below are charts that show the percentage of upper air soundings taken during the month, by NWS station, that ascended on average below 275 meters/minute (red) and above 350 meters/minute (blue). These data are generated from the data archive the sites send to the NOAA National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) each month. 

NWS stations with missing data archive for June,  2008:

Desert Rock, NV

Majuro

Sites must strive to have all flights ascend between 275 and 350 meters/minute. Ascension rates too low result in the sensors not aspirating properly and possible loss of valuable wind data if a radio-direction finding tracking system is used. Ascension rates too high increase gas costs for each flight and increase the chances of an early balloon burst.   Sites should have no more than 5 % of their monthly flights with ascent rates below 275 meters/minute or above 350 meters/minute. 

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