Closing the atmospheric data gap
WindBorne Atlas, our global sensing constellation, delivers critical atmospheric observations from Earth’s most under- and unobserved regions.
Today’s weather observation infrastructure relies on radiosondes, satellites, and ground-based stations—yet 85% of the atmosphere remains under-observed for weather forecasting. The gaps fall precisely where they hurt most: over oceans, polar regions, and remote areas where key weather patterns form. Weather uncertainty driven by these gaps costs tens of billions every year in the U.S. alone, and results in loss of life worldwide.
To close these gaps worldwide, WindBorne operates and maintains Atlas—a global sensing network that comprises the largest balloon constellation in the world and continuously collects in-situ atmospheric soundings. Atlas is powered by autonomous, long-duration high-altitude balloons called Global Sounding Balloons (GSBs) that drastically improve upon legacy weather balloons in performance, endurance, sustainability, and cost.
Atlas currently maintains hundreds of GSBs aloft around the world. At scale, Atlas will encompass the globe with 10,000 GSBs concurrently aloft—the coverage level cited by the World Meteorological Organization as adequate for weather forecasting.
Atmospheric soundings are the foundation of accurate weather forecasting, and WindBorne GSBs are purpose-built for vertical data collection. Rather than flying at a constant altitude, like an airplane, our balloons are making continuous profiles in flight that are as many as 18 km in depth. In this way, WindBorne GSBs collect data across the globe, including remote regions where traditional platforms leave gaps.
Weather models depend on atmospheric observations and require more complete global data such as that collected daily by GSBs. Augmenting current data collections by any measure can lead to significantly more accurate forecasts, and closing the atmospheric data gap can ensure a future in which weather certainty becomes a reality.
WindBorne data is distributed globally via the WMO’s Global Telecommunication System (GTS) and is assimilated into NOAA’s Global Forecast System (GFS). NOAA studies have shown that WindBorne data improves the accuracy of physics-based forecast models—such as [example study linked].
Contact us [xx] to learn more and access our soundings.
We build from scratch. We grind. We iterate.
We solve the unsolvable.
Every line of code, every hardware design, every data model we build has direct planetary impact—improving weather prediction accuracy, enabling better disaster response, and advancing climate science at a scale that matters.
We're looking for the most brilliant, obsessive problem-solvers who thrive on the challenge of building something entirely new: engineers who want to own the future of atmospheric intelligence. If you're tired of incremental improvements and ready to work alongside some of the smartest, most cracked minds in tech on technology that will reshape how humanity understands our atmosphere, we want to talk.
The atmosphere won't wait. Neither should you.
Speed matters. We move fast, make quick decisions, and iterate relentlessly. Action beats inaction, and learning by doing is our default state.
Innovation is our backbone. We are endlessly curious, test relentlessly, and break the meta.
We believe in our people—their skill, potential, and ability to make a difference. That foundation of trust and respect enables us to put our mission above ourselves.
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WindBorne Systems is based in Palo Alto, Calif. Our technology is invented, designed, and manufactured in the USA.
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