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Transformations that take into account the characteristics of balloon motion and wave propagation to infer the 'real' vertical wavelengths from the 'apparent' ones measured during soundings were derived in a flint paper. These results are now used to estimate the deviation of the saturated spectra obtained with balloon measurements from the theoretically expected shape. It is found that data stemming from slowly ascending or descending balloons may lead to a significant distortion of spectra.

The National Institute of Polar Research and the Institute of Space and Astronomical Science launched two large zero-pressure balloons from Syowa Station, the Japanese research base in Antarctica. The balloon launched on Dec 25, 1994, achieved a total circumpolar flight over Antarctica. These Polar Patrol Balloons (PPB) employ a ballast control system to automatically regulate the ceiling height. PPBs can help study electric and magnetic fields, auroral X-rays, ozone, NOx and astronomical features such as isotope separation of cosmic rays, gamma ray bursts and low energy antiparticles in cosmic rays.

A WP-3D 'hurricane hunter' airplane operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration flew directly into a massive snow storm to study its structure and extreme winds. The aircraft deployed GPS dropwindsondes that took a number of important meteorological observations during the flight. Measurements showed surface pressure reading of 988 mb, surface winds of 60 mph and calm flight-level winds. The observations were taken at the height of the storm off the tip of Cape Cod in New England.