Video: New tech may change the way Hurricane Hunters monitor storms New technology may help advance the way NOAA hurricane hunters monitor storms. (George Waldenberger, WFTV.com)
Now NOAA plans to deploy more un-crewed solar and wind-powered vehicles than ever before.
“There’ll be 10 sail drones deployed during the hurricane season, and we’re also keeping two sail drones on land, one on Saint Thomas in the Caribbean and one in St. Petersburg, Florida,” said NOAA Oceanographer Greg Foltz.
Meanwhile, below, 20 to 30 underwater gliders will monitor water temperatures down to one-half mile deep.
“Last year, we only dropped one type of drone. this year, this year we’re looking to drop three types of drones,” said Commander Adam Abitbol, a Hurricane Hunting pilot.
Each of them will be reaching and sampling parts of the hurricane we haven’t been able to access before.
Behind all this innovation, the primary goal is more accurate measurements to create more accurate forecasts.
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Hurricane season names These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Arlene These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Bret These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Cindy These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Don These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Emily These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Franklin These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Gert These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Harold These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Idalia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Jose These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Katia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Lee These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Margot These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Nigel These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Ophelia These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Philippe These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Rina These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Sean These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Tammy These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Vince These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
Whitney These are the names for storms that develop during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. (WFTV.com News Staff)
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Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.