Posted on August 2, 2022 at 6:24 pm
See how drones could save lives in a hurricane
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Inside the building along the coast of St. See the article : Researcher will deploy high-tech tools for better forecasting of storms. Pete, scientists gain insight into data that could save lives during a hurricane.
NOAA Director John Cortinas said his organization is partnering with Saildrone to launch a mission that will allow them to see parts of hurricanes that are not normally visible to humans.
This is the second time NOAA and Saildrone have partnered on a hurricane mission.
Saildrone sends drones and vessels to get a simultaneous view above and below the water.
The drones read storm surge levels, wind speeds, water temperature and currents to help scientists better understand how the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico transfers energy to the storm.
Saildrone has deployed drones and unmanned vessels to track hurricanes
“It certainly helps to understand how storms develop. It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to collect data at that interface, and it’s very important because that’s where the energy transfer happens that helps fuel these storms,” Cortinas said.
Ten years ago, a tropical system would have to be in line with a sensor in the ocean to get similar readings. Now drones can remotely maneuver into the center of a storm.
Last year during Hurricane Sam, a Category 4 storm, a drone was able to fly into the eye of the system and provide the first images and data of its kind.
The drone survived the storm, undamaged, with winds of up to 140 miles per hour.
Seven Saildrone machines will leave the center of St. Pete and join an array of underwater gliders and surface drifters, providing the most advanced information on future storms.
