Hurricane Helen drone flight breaks data collection and flight time records

As Hurricane Helen formed in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA researchers collected critical data from the sea and air to better understand tropical cyclones and support forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. This real-time data gives meteorologists a clearer picture of the storm environment and structure, reducing forecast uncertainty.

Researchers from NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the University of Miami Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Collaborative Laboratory supported a series of NOAA Hurricane Hunter missions from September 25-26, 2024.

In addition to data from operational radars and dropsondes, scientists are using emerging technologies such as the Black Swift S0 drone, a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) that collects atmospheric data from the lowest levels of storms that were previously inaccessible. are experimenting with.

The sUAS is launched from the P-3’s belly and controlled remotely as it flies into the lower levels of the storm, allowing scientists to take boundary layer samples. This refers to the region where the atmosphere and ocean meet, where there is too much turbulence for manned aircraft to fly.

During its flight to Hurricane Helen, the Black Swift S0 set new records for flight time and range. After deployment, S0 flew for a total of 105 minutes, had a maximum range of 169 nautical miles, and reported in-flight data to researchers.

These longer flight times and increased ranges allow for longer data collection periods and access to more remote locations within the storm. As a result, researchers can collect larger amounts of data, increasing the accuracy and scope of their analyses.

These records raise the bar for hurricane observation and highlight the feasibility of integrating emerging technologies into atmospheric research efforts.

Data collection from Hurricane Helen extended beyond the skies as drifters, gliders and buoys reported ocean observations as the storm passed. The ocean is a key factor in the formation and development of hurricanes, making it an important research subject for storms like Helen.

While S0 was flying overhead, researchers from AOML and NOAA’s Pacific Ocean Environmental Laboratory worked with the sail drone to guide two unmanned surface vehicle sail drones into Helen’s path, just above the ocean surface. Data was collected from directly below. They measured maximum wind gusts of 95 knots (109 mph) and maximum significant wave heights of 9.5 meters (31 feet) within about 20 miles of the storm’s center.

In addition, AOML and Scripps Institution of Oceanography partners will coordinate aerial drops and deploy a series of drifting buoys, also known as drifters, in Helen’s channel to measure upper ocean conditions, with wave heights of 8 meters (26 feet) ).

All of this data combined provided scientists and forecasters with valuable information about the development and intensification of this unusual storm, with the ultimate goal of protecting life and property.