NOAA Awards Vaisala $9.2 million Contract

HELSINKI, FINLAND /Marketwire/ -- Vaisala and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have signed a 5-year supply contract for the delivery of next-generation GPS dropsondes, used for hurricane reconnaissance, hurricane research, and storm track forecasting by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The estimated value of the deal is $9.2 million.

"We are extremely pleased that NOAA has chosen Vaisala to supply their next-generation dropsondes," says Martti Husu, Senior Vice President of Meteorology Business Area at Vaisala. "The new design of the dropsondes has been developed by National Center for Atmospheric Research, and they selected Vaisala's calibrated radiosonde sensor modules for use in the new design. The contract strengthens the successful co-operation that we have with one of the world's leading research institutes in this field."

Vaisala Dropsondes measure pressure, temperature, and relative humidity, as well as profiles of the wind fields derived from GPS signals. These specialized meteorological sensors are designed to cover a complete range of atmospheric conditions.

Dropsondes are released from aircrafts flying at altitudes anywhere from near the sea surface to their maximum operating capability, and they are mainly used for targeted observations over the ocean. They provide data for severe storm trajectory and intensity prediction.

About Vaisala
Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement. Building on more than 70 years of experience, Vaisala contributes to a better quality of life by providing a comprehensive range of innovative observation and measurement products and services for meteorology, weather critical operations, and controlled environments. Headquartered in Finland, Vaisala employs over 1200 professionals worldwide.