<P> Specialized uses also exist, such as for aviation interests, pollution monitoring, photography or videography and research . Examples include pilot balloons (Pibal). Field research programs often use mobile launchers from land vehicles as well as ships and aircraft (usually dropsondes in this case). In recent years weather balloons have also been used for scattering human ashes at high - altitude by companies such as Stardust Ashes, founded by Chester Mojay - Sinclare . </P> <P> The Weather balloon was also used to create the fictional entity' Rover' during production of the 1960s TV series' The Prisoner' in Portmeirion, Gwynedd, North Wales, UK in September 1966 . This was retained in further scenes shot at MGM Borehamwood UK during 1966 - 67 . </P>

An instrument carried aloft by a weather balloon