Kathmandu, July 7 Nepal is preparing to fly radiosonde balloons to collect weather information from the stratosphere. Nepal had flown radiosonde balloons for the first time in 1978, but the weather balloon station in Kirtipur was shut the same year. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, preparations are under way to fly radiosonde balloons from the weather station in Kirtipur from October. Director General at the department Rishi Ram Sharma said a team was heading for Germany to import necessary equipment next week. “The team will import weather balloons, sensors, receivers and hydrogen gas generator, among other things, from Germany by one-and-a-half months,” he told THT, adding, “Once the equipment are installed in Kirtipur, weather balloons will be flown regularly.” He said the balloon flies 18 to 20 kilometres above the ground level within half an hour. DHM plans to fly one balloon every day. “It costs 150 US dollars to fly one balloon. So we will fly only one balloon per day from Kirtipur,” he said. He said once the station comes into operation, Nepal will have access to data that would make weather forecasting 100 per cent accurate. While almost all countries in the world have applied High Performance Computer Modeling System that gives weather forecasts that are up to 100 per cent accurate, Nepal has been relying on just 24-hour short-range forecasting system that at best gives 75 per cent accuracy. Three types of weather prediction systems are widely used to predict weather. Europe, America, Australia, China and most other countries use long-range weather prediction system that employs High Performance Computer Modeling System to collect data. Long-range systems forecast weather for up to three months. Medium-range prediction systems forecast weather for up to 10 days and short-range prediction systems forecast weather for three days. According to the department, the station would produce hydrogen from water to fuel the flights of balloons. The radiosonde is attached to a hydrogen-filled balloon and the balloon lifts the radiosonde to altitudes exceeding 115,000 feet. During the radiosonde’s ascent, it transmits data on temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity to a sea, air or land-based receiving station. As per the cost analysis, hydrogen generator costs around Rs 50 million to 60 million. According to the department, India donated equipment to run the radiosonde station for a year through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Storm Project last year.