Drones emerge as reusable alternative to weather balloons: The Guardian

Weather processes unfold largely within the boundary layer – the atmosphere stretching from ground level up to several thousand metres. 

Studying this region in detail has long posed a challenge: ground stations sit too low, and research aircraft are prohibitively expensive. 

Historically, researchers have relied on thousands of instrumented weather balloons released daily, but these flights remain at the mercy of the wind and depend on finite helium reserves.

US company Meteomatics is proposing a tech-driven alternative with Meteobase. This fully automated, weather-resistant ground station launches and recovers data-gathering drones, according to a report by The Guardian.

The system operates on pre-programmed flights to collect readings across altitudes before returning autonomously to recharge and transfer data to researchers.

Capable of deploying single daily missions or multiple flights to track fast-changing events like fog, icing, and advancing weather fronts, the setup aims to eliminate labour-intensive balloon launches. 

Weather balloons have been standard scientific tools since the 1930s -- and a recurring staple of UFO folklore -- but reusable, light-bearing drones may soon take over the skies.