The Invention and Development of the Radiosonde with A Catalog of Upper-Atmospheric Telemetering Probes in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution JOHN L. DUBOIS, ROBERT P. MULTHAUF, and CHARLES A. ZIEGLER SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Folklife Studies Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review. Press requirements for manuscript and art preparation are outlined on the inside back cover. Lawrence M. Small Secretary Smithsonian Institution SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY • NUMBER 53 The Invention and Development of the Radiosonde, with a Catalog of Upper-Atmospheric Telemetering Probes in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution John L. DuBois, Robert P. Multhauf, and Charles A. Ziegler Smithsonian Institution Press Washington, D.C. 2002 ABSTRACT DuBois, John L., Robert P. Multhauf, and Charles A. Ziegler. The Invention and Develop­ ment of the Radiosonde, with a Catalog of Upper-Atmospheric Telemetering Probes in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Studies in His­ tory and Technology, number 53, 78 pages, 60 figures, 2002.—From a historical perspective, the radiosonde is one of the more significant technological innovations of the twentieth cen­ tury, not only because its widespread use greatly enhanced the accuracy of weather forecasting, but also because some features of its basic design became the foundation of all modern analog telemetry systems. This study examines the way in which advances in the technology of non- telemetering balloonsondes and radio in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries culminated in the invention of the radiosonde in 1929. The subsequent development of radiosondes in Europe and the United States from 1929 to 1940 is traced in detail, when the basic design of this instru­ ment achieved its modern form. An overview of significant modifications in radiosonde design after 1940 also is provided because the instruments have remained an essential meteorological tool in the twenty-first century. This monograph also includes a catalog of radiosondes in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Photographs of instruments in this unique collection that graphically depict the development stages of the radiosonde are presented. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Annals of the Smithsonian Institution. COVER DESIGN: The first true radio­ sonde, which was flown by Robert Bureau in 1929. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data DuBois, John L. The invention and development of the radiosonde : with a catalog of upper-atmospheric telemetering probes in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution / John L. DuBois, Robert P. Multhauf, and Charles A. Ziegler. p. cm.—(Smithsonian studies in history and technology ; no. 53) Includes bibliographical references. 1. Radiosondes—History—19th Century. 2. Radiosondes—History—20th century. 3. Radiosondes— Catalogs. 4. National Museum of American History (U.S.)—Catalogs. I. Multhauf, Robert P. II. Ziegler, Charles A. (Charles Albert), 1927- III. Title. IV. Series. QC879.25.D83 2002 551.63'52—dc21 2002030658 © The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48—1984. Contents Page Preface iv Introduction 1 I. THE PROBLEM OF HIGH-ALTITUDE METEOROLOGY AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT LED TO THE RADIOSONDE 1. Nontelemetering Balloonsondes, 1892-1929 3 2. Preradio Telemetering, 1842-1894 15 3. Radio Telemetry, 1895-1929 19 II. THE RADIOSONDE: DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION 4. The Early Years, 1921-1928 26 5. The Prototypes, 1929-1930 30 6. Maturity, 1931-1940 41 7. The Radiosonde after 1940 59 8. Conclusion 67 III. CATALOG OF UPPER-ATMOSPHERIC TELEMETERING PROBES AND RELATED ARTIFACTS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Notes 73 Appendix: Selected United States Patents Related to Radiosondes 75 Literature Cited 76 in Preface "Radiosonde" is a balloon-borne instrument that transmits atmospheric data, usually temperature, pressure, and humidity, to a receiver-recorder on the ground. The contribu­ tions of this relatively simple device to the late twentieth-century way of life can hardly be exaggerated. No other factor contributed more to the systematization of weather observa­ tions, which is beneficial to all who depend upon meteorological prediction. The utiliza­ tion of the radiosonde directly affected agriculture and aeronautics, and its more sophisti­ cated offspring made possible many of the marvels of the space age. The collection of instruments on which this study is based was assembled throughout a decade and a half, 1955-1970, as part of the program of the Smithsonian Institution to es­ tablish a new museum of the history of science and technology and of the political and so­ cial history of the United States. A museum rarely exhibits its entire collection in any field at one time, and objects not exhibited are retained for reference purposes. In the latter function, nothing is more useful than a printed catalog. Because of the variety of museum collections, the production of such catalogs is only occasionally realized. Such a document is most important when the collection in question is uncommon, or even unique. This may be the case with the collec­ tion described herein. Because "old" scientific instruments often are unfamiliar even to those who use modem instruments serving the same, or similar, purposes, some guidance in their construction and functions is useful. It also is important to understand that the history of a scientific in­ strument is a case history in the process of invention. For these reasons, this publication includes a capsule history of the development of the radiosonde based upon the instru­ ments themselves and upon the original literature connected with their development. We are particularly indebted to Robert Wright of the Instrument Division of the United States Weather Bureau, who thought old instruments worth collecting, and to Christon Harmantas, who knew what they were. George A. Norton, Jr., assisted greatly with the cat­ alog of specimens. We also gratefully acknowledge the help of William Blair, Jr., who kindly supplied us with copies of selected published and unpublished documents from the collected papers of his father, Colonel William Blair. Thanks also are due H.C. McBrair who alerted us to the importance of Colonel Blair's research to the early history of the radiosonde and who shared with us his reminiscences of radiosonde development at Wallace and Tiernan Inc., an early manufacturer of radiosonde equipment. At the opposite end of the time-span with which we are concerned, we are indebted for the support of the following historians at the Smithsonian Institution: David Devorkin of the National Air and Space Museum and Deb­ orah Warner of the National Museum of American History. Robert P. Multhauf Director Emeritus National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution IV The Invention and Development of the Radiosonde, with a Catalog of Upper-Atmospheric Telemetering Probes in the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution John L. DuBois, Robert P. Multhauf, and Charles A. Ziegler Introduction The collection and transmission of data is as old as the hu­ made to develop meteorological instruments that automatically man species. Information about the weather may have first recorded their readings. Steady improvements were made in achieved "scientific" status when sensible observation (e.g., the data collection process, but it soon was recognized that it coldest winter in the memory of the oldest resident) of meteo­ was even more important to devise some speedy method for rological data was augmented by instruments