What Type of Equipment Is Used to Record Measurements for Hurricanes?

Hurricanes can be tracked from the ground, air and even from space.

When a hurricane begins to develop, meteorologists can watch and collect data on their movements from the ground, air and space. This is done by using Doppler radar installations, WC-130J aircraft and satellites.

VORTRAC

A new technique, Vortex Objective Radar Tracking and Circulation, was developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Naval Research Laboratory to provide 3-D images of hurricanes every three minutes. It uses the existing Doppler radar network.

Aircraft

Aircraft also play a key role in collecting data, either through on-board computers, dropsondes (weather reconnaissance devices) or passing data among satellites. The U.S. Air Force Reserve's WC-130J is one such aircraft.

Advanced Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System

The Advanced Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System, or AVAPS, is a high-powered computer system that records atmospheric conditions vertically as dropsondes fall through a hurricane.

Dropsonde

A dropsonde is a lightweight instrument package that has a GPS system and instruments to collect current pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction. This data can be relayed to aircraft every half-second.

Satellites

Weather satellites are used to track hurricanes from space and can provide wide-area detailed images. They also transmit information from aircraft to ground stations.

References

• ScienceDaily.com
• Globio Glossopedia
• 403rd Wing USAF