Articles | Volume 9, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2535-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2535-2016
Research article
 | 
09 Jun 2016
Research article |  | 09 Jun 2016

Return glider radiosonde for in situ upper-air research measurements

Andreas Kräuchi and Rolf Philipona

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Short summary
New radiosonde instruments for humidity-, radiation- and gas-profile measurements were introduced in recent years for atmospheric research and climate monitoring. Such instruments are intended to be reused on multiple flights. Here we introduce the return glider radiosonde (RGR), which enables flying and retrieving valuable in situ upper-air instruments. The RGR is lifted with weather balloons to a preset altitude, and a built-in autopilot flies the glider autonomously back to the launch site.