Mxsmanic wrote:
It's easy enough to establish measurement stations on the surface to measure
wind, temperature, visibility, etc., but what is the normal way for
meteorologists to measure these things aloft? Do they depend on PIREPs, or
expendable/recoverable probes and balloons, or satellites, or what?


Tongue firmly in cheek They charter a Bell 47 helicopter and take it
up in increments of 1000 feet where they hover for a few seconds. They
roll down the window and use the "finger method" to determine wind speed
and direction. At altitudes above 30,000 feet they use the frozen toe
method to determine winds aloft and temperatures.