Vilho Väisälä

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Vilho Väisälä (September 28, 1889 – August 12, 1969) was a Finnish meteorologist and physicist, and founder of Vaisala.

After graduation in meteorology in 1912, Väisälä worked for the Finnish Meteorological Institute in aerological measurements, specializing in the research of the higher troposphere. At the time the measurements were conducted by attaching a thermograph to a kite.

Väisälä participated in development of radiosonde, a device attached to a balloon and launched to measure air in the higher atmosphere. In 1936 he started his own company, manufacturing radiosondes and - later - other meteorological instruments.

In 1948 Väisälä was nominated a Professor of Meteorology in the University of Helsinki.

Vilho Väisälä's two brothers, Kalle Väisälä and Yrjö Väisälä, made successful careers in science.