Sonde and Dropsonde Photos
![Dropsonde (left) and Radiosonde on Balloon](/sites/default/files/media/images/sondes_di02575_di00670_900x600.jpg)
UCAR
Sondes are instrument packages used by atmospheric scientists to gather data at various altitudes. On the left, a sonde (brown tube at bottom) descends beneath a small parachute. Dropsondes such as this are often deployed from aircraft. The photo on the right shows a scientist attaching a sonde to a weather balloon, which will carry the instruments aloft.