Hurricane Hunters

Vömel and a team of scientists, pilots, and technicians had taken off from Lakeland, Florida, to follow the developing storm. Their mission: Collect information on the hurricane so weather scientists can measure it and predict what it will do next.  

Weather is complex and constantly changing. Wind patterns, water vapor, and temperature interact in Earth’s atmosphere to produce everything from a super-sunny day to a hurricane. 

Knowing about bad storms in advance is critical. People’s ability to prepare for severe weather can be a matter of life or death. Fortunately, improvements in technology have helped the science of weather forecasting become more accurate and reliable.

Vömel and a team of scientists, pilots, and technicians had taken off from Lakeland, Florida. The wanted to follow the developing storm. Their mission: Collect information on the hurricane. Weather scientists would use it to measure the storm. They would also predict what it would do next. 

Weather is complex and constantly changing. Wind patterns, water vapor, and temperature interact in Earth’s atmosphere. Weather produces everything from a super-sunny day to a hurricane. 

Knowing about bad storms in advance is critical. People’s ability to prepare for severe weather can be a matter of life or death. Fortunately, improvements in technology have helped the science of weather forecasting. It’s become more accurate and reliable.

One of the best ways to learn about a hurricane is to collect data from inside the storm itself. To do that, scientists use dropsondes (DROP-sahndz). These single-use sensors are roughly the size and shape of a paper towel roll. They detect wind, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity—the amount of water vapor in the air. 

Once released from a plane, dropsondes collect data as they fall and transmit it to scientists. Typically, scientists release about 10 to 90 dropsondes into a storm during a flight.  

One of the best ways to learn about a hurricane is to collect data from inside the storm itself. To do that, scientists use dropsondes (DROP-sahndz). These single-use sensors are roughly the size and shape of a paper towel roll. They detect wind, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. They also detect humidity. That’s the amount of water vapor in the air.

Once released from a plane, dropsondes collect data as they fall and transmit it to scientists. Typically, scientists release about 10 to 90 dropsondes into a storm during a flight.  

Vömel designs dropsondes. He joined the Hurricane Irma team to observe how these tools work during a storm. During the flight, the team flew into Irma’s eye, or a hurricane’s center, four times. 

Though dropsondes have existed for almost 60 years, newer technology has made them more precise. Data can be transmitted faster. This means it can be used to make predictions more quickly.

But a dropsonde can be used only once. Many of them litter the ocean floor. So people are working on developing new versions that use more eco-friendly
materials.

Vömel designs dropsondes. He joined the Hurricane Irma team to observe how these tools work during a storm. During the flight, the team flew into the center of Hurricane Irma four times.

Dropsondes have existed for almost 60 years. Newer technology has made them more precise. Data can be transmitted faster. The information can be used to make predictions more quickly.

But a dropsonde can be used only once. Many of them litter the ocean floor. So people are working on developing new versions that use more eco-friendly materials.

Vömel’s plane flew about 10,000 feet above Earth. Other weather planes fly much higher.

The Global Hawk is an unmanned aircraft used by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 48-foot plane flies 60,000 feet (11 miles) above Earth. It has five scientific instruments on board. 

Because it operates without people onboard, the plane often spends 24 hours in flight. That’s about three times longer than a propeller plane can fly. “This means we can observe the entire storm as it develops,” says Gary Wick, a physicist at NOAA.  

Amber Emory, a meteorologist at NASA, has worked with the Global Hawk program since it began in 2009. So far, the collected data has resulted in “a big increase in our ability to forecast a hurricane accurately,” she says.

Vömel’s plane flew about 10,000 feet above Earth. Other weather planes fly much higher.

The Global Hawk is an unmanned aircraft used by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 48-foot plane flies 60,000 feet (11 miles) above Earth. It has five scientific instruments on board.

The plane often spends 24 hours in flight. That’s about three times longer than a propeller plane can fly. The Global Hawk can do this because it operates without people onboard. “We can observe the entire storm as it develops,” says Gary Wick, a physicist at NOAA.

Amber Emory is a meteorologist at NASA. She has worked with the Global Hawk program since it began in 2009. So far, the collected data has resulted in “a big increase in our ability to forecast a hurricane accurately,” she says.

Hurricane Harvey is a recent example. This destructive storm struck Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, with high winds and 52 inches of rain in places.

Initially, scientists classified Harvey as a Category 2 storm (see Hurricane Categories). But after studying data from the Global Hawk, they upgraded the storm to a Category 4. “A Category 4 storm is a completely different monster,” says Emory. That much of a difference makes many people evacuate for safety reasons rather than stay home.

Hurricane Harvey is a recent example. This destructive storm struck Texas and Louisiana in August 2017. The storm had high winds and 52 inches of rain in some places.

Initially, scientists classified Harvey as a Category 2 storm (see Hurricane Categories). But after studying data from the Global Hawk, they upgraded the storm to a Category 4. “A Category 4 storm is a completely different monster,” says Emory. That much of a difference makes many people evacuate for safety reasons rather than stay home.

Storms can be predicted, but they can’t be prevented. When severe weather hits, scientists and government officials work together to notify the public. “There is a personal side for why we do this,” says Emory. “What drives me every day is making sure people are safe during a storm.” 

Storms can be predicted. But they can’t be prevented. When severe weather hits, scientists and government officials work together to notify the public. “There is a personal side for why we do this,” says Emory. “What drives me every day is making sure people are safe during a storm.”