NOAA aircraft collect vital data before, during and after hurricanes Idalia and Lee
NOAA's WP-3D Orion and Gulfstream IV-SP hurricane hunter aircraft conducted numerous flights into hurricanes Idalia and Lee in September, collecting data vital for forecasts and research. Following these storms, NOAA King Air 350CER aircraft flew emergency response missions to gather imagery of coastal areas impacted by Idalia and Lee. Since Oct. 1, 2022, NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft have flown nearly 80 missions. Learn more about the NOAA Hurricane Hunters here.
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NOAA Twin Otter supports air quality research campaign
A NOAA DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft equipped with sensitive air sampling instruments crisscrossed the skies over New York in September as part of a major air chemistry study involving NASA and 21 universities. The project aimed to improve air quality monitoring and modeling by investigating how the weather and atmospheric dynamics affect the creation and transport of pollutants from the New York metro area to southern New England. It is part of a larger effort to study how air pollution sources have shifted over recent decades. To learn more about the NOAA Twin Otter’s role in the project, click here.
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Drones among newest tech being deployed into hurricanes
This hurricane season, NOAA is testing the ability of aerial drones to gather storm data key to understanding how tropical cyclones form, build, and intensify. Uncrewed systems in the air, on the sea and under water are expanding our ability to collect data at different levels of the atmosphere and ocean. Together with NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft carrying sensors, this data paints a clearer picture for scientists of the forces that drive hurricanes. Learn more about these new tools here.
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Small but mighty: Meet the minisonde
Have you ever wondered how hurricane hunters collect data on tropical cyclones? One way is by dropping expendable meteorological instruments from aircraft, like the dropsonde. These small cylindrical devices collect data on wind speed, wind direction, air temperature and humidity as they fall through the air. Think of them like weather balloons in reverse. Once heavy and large, new materials and components have reduced their size--making them lighter and cheaper to deploy. Learn more about the "minisonde" here.
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NOAA Corps offering direct-to-flight career path
The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is offering a unique opportunity for licensed pilots to apply for a direct-to-flight career pathway into the NOAA Corps. Applicants must possess a valid FAA commercial multi-engine license with instrument rating in addition to meeting the standard eligibility requirements. If selected, officer candidates will report for duty at NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center following successful completion of basic officer training. Learn more here.
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Heritage: Flying into the record book with Dr. James McFadden
The 2024 edition of the Guinness World Records book recognizes NOAA and industry partners with two world records. Hear from the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center’s own Guinness World Record holder, the late Dr. James "Doc" McFadden, in this oral history.
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Photo of the Month
NOAA Flight Meteorologist Samantha Timmers views an image of Hurricane Lee at her station aboard NOAA's Gulfstream IV-SP. Credit: Capt. Jason Mansour, NOAA
On the Radar
NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft support research missions year-round. While they still keep an eye on the tropics until Nov. 30, our crews and technicians are making plans to transition to winter season missions. The next missions for the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft take them to very different locations.
“Gonzo,” the Gulfstream IV-SP, will be stationed in Hawaii this year (December-February), flying over the Eastern Tropical Pacific to measure moisture levels in atmospheric rivers on their way to the West Coast.
“Kermit,” one of our Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft, will be in Alaska flying through North Pacific winter storms. The mission, called Ocean Winds, helps calibrate and validate satellite remote sensing products and techniques of the ocean surface in the storm environment.
“Miss Piggy,” our other Lockheed WP-3D Orion, will go into maintenance to be ready for missions in the spring.
This time of year our NOAA King Air and Twin Otter crews truly get to soak in the beauty of fall. They start flying survey lines across the northern U.S., southern Canada, and Alaska to measure soil moisture before the first snow falls. They then fly these same survey lines later in the winter to measure snow water equivalent in the snow pack to help forecasters predict snow melt flooding, river flow rates and drought conditions.
We are looking forward to sharing accomplishments from our winter season with you in the next issue of Flightlines. You can subscribe to the newsletter by signing up here and be sure to follow us on social media!
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