Private Firms Start Collecting Weather Data for NOAA

Private company WindBorne is deploying weather balloons to collect atmospheric data, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional radiosondes. While their data is currently free, they plan to sell some of it after a 48-hour delay. The company’s balloons gather extensive horizontal data, which differs from the vertical profiles collected by radiosondes, raising concerns about long-term climate data consistency. NOAA is exploring new atmospheric observation systems, including commercial balloons, to supplement or replace existing methods, amid trust issues with current strategies.