in situ measurement

meteorology

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July 16, 2026

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In meteorology, in situ measurements involve placing instruments directly at the point of interest to gather atmospheric data. This contrasts with remote sensing, where instruments are located at a distance.

In situ instrumentation within the planetary boundary layer includes towers, tethered balloons, and surface platforms. These collect data on temperature, dew-point temperature, pressure, wind velocity, radiative fluxes, and air chemistry. Above this layer, the primary platform is the radiosonde, a balloon-borne instrument that measures temperature, pressure, and humidity, transmitting this data to a ground station. These measurements are crucial for understanding atmospheric conditions and benchmarking weather prediction models.12

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atmosphere
Measurement systems
…atmosphere are of two types—in situ measurements and remote sensing observations. In situ measurements require that the instrumentation be located directly at the point of interest and in contact with the subject of interest. In contrast, remote sensors are located some distance away from the subject of interest. Remote…
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…atmosphere are of two types—in situ measurements and remote sensing observations. In situ measurements require that the instrumentation be located directly at the point of interest and in contact with the subject of interest. In contrast, remote sensors are located some distance away from the subject of interest. Remote…
Read More