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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – An area resident stumbled upon a valuable piece of technology roughly 16 miles South of Jamestown Thursday.

The radiosonde is a balloon-borne instrument used by the NOAA National Weather Service to obtain data for weather forecasts and research. This specific radiosonde was sent out by the Bismarck National Weather Service Wednesday, October 19th at around 6:00 PM. Meteorologist Zack Hargrove says they release two balloons daily; one at 6:00 AM and another at 6:00 PM.

Hargrove stated that these instruments are vital when it comes to forecasting weather more accurately.

Meteorologists are able to track balloons, but lose them once they burst from expanding in the atmosphere. Hargrove pointed out that some balloons he’s tracked travel quite far.

Hargrove stated that the Weather Service includes information and means for individuals who find their balloons to send them back so they can recycle and reuse them. He mentioned that they typically receive returned balloons 20 to 25 percent of the time.