Sure you can. Just need a pitot tube!
Comment on xkcd #3161: Airspeed
panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
You can’t measure airspeed in a balloon
chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Successful_Try543@feddit.org 1 day ago
The Pitot tube doesn’t work as the ballon is moving (more or less) with the wind, i.e. both pressure tubes in the Pitot tube are measuring (almost) the same pressure, resulting in measuring (almost) zero velocity.
chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It records an air speed of 0. Isn’t that working exactly as intended?
Successful_Try543@feddit.org 1 day ago
Isn’t one usually interested in the speed relative to the ground?
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 1 day ago
Balloons don’t carry such instruments, but they do experience airspeed. Balloons can climb and descend at over 500fpm. We experience vertical “wind” at those speeds.
Balloons are tall enough that the envelope can be above a wind shear, while the basket can be below. I’ve experienced 15kt shears, enough to deform the bottom of the envelope into a “question mark”.