What The?

[Weather-history]

Spotted this object in the air and wonder what on earth it was, It was long and fell to earth. You can judge the size of it by the trees in the foreground. It fell some distance behind the trees. No idea where it has come from, there is not much of a breeze.

[Evening thunder]

I'm not sure but my only guess would be a burst weather balloon, I've heard of something like this before I think. Interesting though.

[Backtrack]

Yep it doesn't look like it has come from the cloud base, it looks artificial. It's probably a burst weather balloon.

[knocker]

I'm not sure but my only guess would be a burst weather balloon, I've heard of something like this before I think. Interesting though.

I wondered about that but normally there is a parachute attached.

[4wd]

I've found burst weather balloons and they are smaller bits than that and in surprisingly fine shreds (usually)

It looks like a length of pale green silage bale wrap to me, how it got up high is the question, certainly could have been picked up by a large dust devil or small tornado if any were about.

[Weather-history]

[DAVID SNOW]

Toilet roll.

[Gray-Wolf]

Do they still jump from Barton Airport these days (used to when i grew up around there) as it may be a guide to any jumpers?

[Guest]

I remember that when I was a boy some older people who were pilots of light aircraft used to enagage in an activity called "Bog Roll Chopping" - the idea was to fold the first few sheets opposite each other so that the airflow would unroll it then throw it out of the aircraft then turn round to see if you could chop it up with your propeller.

[Weather-history]

Do they still jump from Barton Airport these days (used to when i grew up around there) as it may be a guide to any jumpers?

Not as far as I'm aware and in any case its not near the airport. If it landed on the M62, it could have caused a pile up.

[AderynCoch]

Has no one bothered to see where it landed to identify it?

[knocker]

Not as far as I'm aware and in any case its not near the airport. If it landed on the M62, it could have caused a pile up.

That reminds me of a couple of occasions from years ago.

In the first I received an irate phone call from a woman in St. Austell saying our midday radiosonde had crashed through her greenhouse causing much damage and ruining her cucumbers. I passed the buck on that one.

I wasn't directly involved with the second that was more serious. A sonde had landed in the middle of a stud farm in Wiltshire, probably from Larkhill, causing the horses to panic and a fair bit of damage. I understand that cost the office a fair bit in compensation.

I must be remembered that the radiosondes were quite large and heavy in those days in comparison to the ones used today.

Edited August 22, 2011 by weather ship

[Coast]

As weather ship will confirm, the balloons for the radiosonde readings are like this when they start out:

With something like one of these on the end of it:

[knocker]

Where's that centre photo Coast? A bit of a lash up with the helium cylinders

[Coast]

Where's that centre photo Coast? A bit of a lash up with the helium cylinders

I think it's an American 'field' unit, must be something specific where they trucked some kit into a designated area.