CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- In the night, the huge white "wandering balloon" slowly lifted off. Its scientific name is sounding balloon, a kind of meteorological observation tool, whose mission is to go to probe weather conditions in ten thousand meters high altitude. As one of 119 sounding balloon release sites across the country, Chongqing Shapingba High Altitude Meteorological Observation Station, has a group of "vagrant balloon" guardians.

Shapingba High Altitude Meteorological Observation Station is located in Gele Mountain, Shapingba District, Chongqing. It is the only high altitude meteorological observation station in Chongqing. The high altitude meteorological data obtained by the sounding balloon will be uploaded to the International Meteorological Center and shared with the meteorological data of the whole world.

Zhang Yinting (first from the right) and his 4 colleagues are here for 365 days a year. Zhang Yinting, whose hometown is in Anhui, has the oldest qualification, and sticks to this post for 32 years. In 32 years, Zhang Yinting only spend Spring Festival in his hometown for once. Their job is “simply” to set up balloons.

"It is easy to work, but you shall mainly endure loneliness." Zhang Yinting said that the state has strict requirements for balloon release time, at 7:15 a.m., 7:15 p.m. and 1:15 a.m. every day, put balloons in 119 delivery points nationwide on time. "Release time for three times interval is very short, basically it is needed to work overnight, once you oversleep without releasing balloons, it is an accident."

At about 6:30 p.m., Zhang Yinting and his colleagues are getting busy, inflating the balloon, checking the digital sonde, and preparing for the release of the balloon.

Before entering the hydrogen room, the reporter saw a metal electrostatic pile. "It is used to eliminate static electricity and prevent accidents when hydrogen is pumped into balloons," Zhang Yinting explained that the staff needed to put their hands on it for 15 seconds.

In the hydrogen room, the staff put the balloon on the hydrogen inflation port, tighten it with rope, and then open the valve to start inflation. The sounding balloon is made of rubber material with a diameter of about 1.6 meters after being filled with hydrogen, and under the influence of high altitude pressure, the balloon can finally expand to about 5 meters.

As the only equipment carried by the balloon, the sonde is wrapped in foam, and only 200 grams for the heaviest one. Although it's small, the meteorological data collection depends on it.

"There are three kinds of sensing elements in the sonde, which can measure the temperature, humidity and air pressure in the high altitude and send them back to the ground in real time." Zhang Yinting introduced while using 30 meters of the rope to bind the sonde under the balloon. "The rope is 30 meters in order to ensure that the swing amplitude is in the minimum range."

"Three, two, one, release!" At 7:15 p.m., Zhang Yinting and his colleagues cooperated to release balloons on time, and the whole operation process was smooth and finished without stop. "It is not simple to release the balloon, since it is necessary to prevent lightning stroke in thunderstorm weather, and even run in gale weather," Zhang Yinting said.

Zhang Yinting reminded that the sounding balloon, the sonde is non-toxic, harmless and non-hazardous, and the falling speed is also very slow, you do not have to be afraid to see, you can handle it yourself if you pick up the sonde.

Day after day, year after year, Zhang Yinting and his colleagues do the same thing all night long despite the rain, lightning and thunder, but they never regret it. It is their significance to provide accurate weather reference for everyone to travel safely. (Translated by Zhang Kang, Fathom Language Limited)