TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

BALLON-PILOTE [2 records]

Record 1 2014-11-27

English

Subject field(s)
  • Public Relations
DEF

a project or scheme tentatively announced in order to test public opinion.

DEF

an experiment to see how a planned policy or program etc. will be received by the public.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Relations publiques
DEF

Expérience que l'on tente pour sonder les dispositions des gens, tâter l'opinion.

DEF

Idée que lance dans le public un écrivain, un politicien, pour pressentir l'accueil qui pourra être fait à quelque œuvre plus considérable sur la même matière.

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2005-10-25

English

Subject field(s)
  • Weather Stations and Meteorological Instruments and Equipment
DEF

Free balloon whose path while moving upwards is visually observed in order to measure upper winds.

CONT

One expedient method for determining the winds aloft entails the launching and tracking of a pilot balloon, also known as a pibal. The name for these balloons that do not carry instruments apparently came from their use during the 19th century when they were launched prior to manned balloon ascents to help guide or "pilot" the manned balloons. The brightly colored helium filled balloon rises at a known ascent rate. However, the balloon is carried horizontally with the wind. Since the assumption is made that the balloon serves as a tracer of the wind, the horizontal motion of the balloon over measured time intervals can be used to determine the wind speed. An observer visually tracks the motion of the balloon with an instrument called a theodolite and records the elevation and azimuth angles at timed intervals. The sequence of observed elevation and azimuth information are plotted on a plotting board to obtain the balloon motion. The wind speed and direction at each selected level are determined. Wind observations may be limited by low cloud ceilings that obscure the balloon.

OBS

pilot balloon: term standardized by ISO.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Stations, instruments et équipements météorologiques
DEF

Ballon de petit diamètre, dont la trajectoire, observée depuis le sol à l'aide d'un théodolite ou d'un radar, indique la vitesse du vent et sa direction.

OBS

ballon pilote : terme normalisé par l'ISO.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Estaciones, instrumentos y equipos meteorológicos
DEF

Globo libre cuya trayectoria ascendente se observa visualmente para determinar los vientos en altitud.

Save record 2

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