Unmanned Vehicles May Help Scientist Understand Hurricanes

Government scientists believe a fleet of smallunmanned airplanes sent to hurricanes' cores could lead torevolutionary advances in storm forecasting and measurement.

By: Kevin Justus | News Channel 7
Published: June 30, 2008

» Comments | Post a Comment

MIAMI (AP) - Government scientists believe a fleet of small
unmanned airplanes sent to hurricanes' cores could lead to
revolutionary advances in storm forecasting and measurement.
The drones are able to fly far lower than manned hurricane
hunter planes and can beam back information from close to the
ocean's surface, where conditions fuel a storm's intensity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began
launching drones in 2005, and they've proved so durable and
effective that they've been called pioneering.
Scientists don't envision the drones will replace manned
flights. They say they can work in tandem to help plot the most
crucial spots in a storm. Within a few years, scientists expect
drones to be dispatched in every storm, a move scientists hope will
vastly improve the understanding of how the ocean's temperature
intensifies and weakens storms.