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 | DENVER (August 4, 2005): When the cruise ship Explorer of the Seas departs from Miami on August 7, two researchers from Denver-based ADA Technologies, Inc. will be onboard debuting a new way to gather weather information over oceans.
ADA Technologies has developed an automated shipboard weather balloon launch system that makes the process of successfully launching weather balloons a relatively cost-effective and simple procedure.
Thousands of weather balloons are launched daily around the world. Due to the difficulty of successfully launching weather balloons from ships, the vast majority of launches take place on land, despite the fact that most of the earth’s surface is covered by water and most large-scale weather systems develop over the earth’s oceans.
Historically it has been difficult to have a successful shipboard launch due to excessive wind caused by the ship’s movement and other adverse weather conditions. Additionally, most weather balloon launches require trained personnel, making it a very expensive undertaking for the government agencies and other atmospheric researchers trying to collect accurate, up-to-date information.
The ADA Technologies launch system is fully automated and designed to eliminate wind damage to the balloons and the delicate instrument packages they carry into the atmosphere.
“As a result of this new system, it will be more practical to conduct successful launches from commercial ships, providing atmospheric researchers with access to accurate, up-to-date weather information from locations worldwide,” said Cliff Brown, president, ADA Technologies.
In addition to its unique design and automation, the ADA-developed balloon launcher is compact in size and weighs less than 300 pounds, making it easy to transport. The only other automated weather balloon launcher on the market weighs 2.5 tons.
The shipboard test is part of a cooperative research program operated by Royal Caribbean International and the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation are also involved in the research program. http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/rccl/.
Littleton, Colorado-based ADA Technologies, Inc. specializes in the creation and conversion of innovative technologies to commercial successes. For more information, please visit www.adatech.com or call 303-792-5615.
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