Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in September launched a weather balloon from campus in conjunction with two UT geography classes.
WBIR-TV Channel 10 covered the launch in this story.
The activity demonstrated how students collect upper air data, which will increase their understanding of upper atmosphere such as temperature, moisture and wind that will help them better forecast the weather, according to Kelsey Ellis, assistant professor geography who is teaching the classes.
The NOAA scientists use balloons and other mechanisms such as drones to collect air data that provides information about the environment surrounding severe thunderstorms to potentially better understand tornado formation.