Meteomatics unveils Strato drone for atmospheric profiling

Swiss weather-tech firm Meteomatics introduced Strato, a multicopter drone that climbs to 34,000 feet in about 25 minutes and records temperature, humidity, pressure and wind at every altitude. Unlike weather balloons, it returns to its launch site and can fly again on demand.

• Strato reaches 34,000 feet in ~25 minutes, about half the time of a weather balloon
• It builds a full vertical atmospheric profile from ground to stratosphere
• Withstands 80 mph winds, is waterproof and heats propellers to prevent icing
• About 90% of weather balloons are never recovered and become pollution