The agricultural engineer Hungarian and international 2nd-year students with the wildlife management students took part in a study trip to Szeged at the beginning of October. They visited the local Meteorological Observatory where they could see the equipment used in the daily detection practice and also observed them during operation. They were informed about the software used and also got an insight into the operation of the institution.

Meteorologist, Tamás TÓTH, head of the institution, guided the group to the Observatory.

After the presentation, Tamás TÓTH answered the questions raised by the students.

Institute head meteorologist, Tamás TÓTH greets the students at 8.30 a.m. In the building at the background, the equipment required for the manual launch of the balloon is stored.

We are inside the container in the station area, where the presented balloon is filled with hydrogen, and the meteorological sensors it carries measure the state of the upper atmosphere during its ascent up to a height of about 30 km, then again while falling from there. The data provide valuable information for weather forecasting. All phases of launching the balloon are automated.

Since 2019, the cloud base measurement instrument, shown in the photo, has been in operation. The measurements are made by emitting a laser beam.

In the photo, the temperature sensor is located in the centre, inside the laminated plate covering, while the instrument on the left edge of the rod measures global radiation and back-radiation from the surface.

Wind parameters (wind speed, wind gust, and wind direction) are measured on top of

the 10 metre high support pole.

The instrument on the right side of the photo measures visibility by emitting laser beams.

The manual measuring unit for precipitation measurement is the traditional Hellmann precipitation gauge.

In the measurement area of the synoptic station.

The students were accompanied by László MAKRA Ph.D., professor emeritus of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged.