The usual "weather" balloons are constructed to burst into many pieces due to freezing up at levels at ~40,000 feet. They fragment so as not to be of size or area to cause havoc in the air [jet injestion] on the ground [falling across a windshield in heavy traffic] or in the ocean [i.e. whales eating them]. They are 1.5 meters in diameter. Sometimes however they get trapped between fast moving layers of air and travel well away from their intended area of concern. Don Ledger thomsona wrote: >>I have seen mylar and rubber balloons drifting off from shopping centers > > and > >>other places where that is likely to happen. Then again, at some weddings >>(and other events) rubber balloons are released enmasse. > > > I wonder how many balloons are floating around at any given time. There's > currently a metallized mylar Valentine balloon anchored to our breakfast > table that shows no sign of giving out after a month. Doubtless solar UV > would cut down the lifetime of those floating in the open air, but still, I > bet there are a lot out there that are a source of noise for satellite and > astronomical observations. > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.462 / Virus Database: 261 - Release Date: 3/13/03 > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' > in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org > List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Mar 17 2003 - 16:04:51 EST