How do the fierce hurricanes gain their strength? To explore this, many small unmanned autonomous vehicles are being sent to the eye of the fierce hurricane surface layers. But, it is for the first time a small un-crewed aircraft — called an aerosonde – will fly through the fierce winds to take ‘continuous data’ on how such storms gain their strength. NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association have planned this venture.
Developed by the Aerosonde Corporation of Wallops Island, Virginia, US, the aerosonde will be measuring the storm’s inside temperature, pressure, humidity and wind velocity.
The $50,000 aircraft, launched from a rack on top of a small truck, will help crack the tough problem of predicting changes in hurricane intensity.
