NOAA (United States Oceanic and Atmospheric istration) planes are flying again. The approximation of hurricane Ida allowed one more opportunity to study this atmospheric phenomenon.
The aircraft used was the WP-3D Orion, a modified and military version based on the classic Lockheed Electra ll, prepared especially for this type of mission.
In the video below recorded on August 29th, we can see how the WP-3D shakes when ing close to the hurricane Ida.
OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO – Flying into the eye of Category 4 Hurricane # One way on NOAA WP-3D Orion # NOAA43 Miss Piggy during morning mission 08.29.21. Credit: Lt. cmdr. Doremus, NOAA Corps. visit https://t.co/JRMe4KQZfE for NOAA event resources. #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/STHD6mWwgd
— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 29, 2021
In the image below, we can see the flight tracking showing the WP-3D in the eye of the hurricane, considered the “quietest” part of the mission, without strong winds and turbulence. We can also observe the weather radar of the aircraft, located next to the flight commander, with the indication of “clouds” of heavy rain in front of the plane.
Stunning video taken from inside the eye of # One way this morning by the NESDIS Ocean Winds Research team during a flight on the @NOAA_HurrHunter p3 aircraft @NOAASatellites pic.twitter.com/sjt970Yeiq
- National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 29, 2021
OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO – Views from this morning's flight on @NOAA WP-3D Orion # NOAA43 Miss Piggy in the eye of Hurricane # One way. Credit: Lt. cmdr. Doremus, NOAA Corps.
Follow @NHC_Atlantic and your location @NWS Weather Forecast Office for forecasts and advisories.#FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/188J81haqMADVERTISING — NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 28, 2021
NOAA (American Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency) makes this flight when there is a hurricane, it studies the behavior of hurricanes through several sensors installed on the aircraft, with this it is possible to measure the wind speed at various points of the storm and also its density and pressure.
The mission was carried out with the plane named "Kermit", it is equipped with a series of sensors, scientific equipment and logically meteorological radars, in addition to onboard computers that receive and display this information in real time. Crew can communicate live hurricane conditions and strength directly with a NOAA station on the ground.
Hurricane Ida was assigned a Category 4, indicating it could have winds of up to 251 kilometers per hour. Ida touched the coast of the United States this Sunday (29), unfortunately causing deaths and a trail of destruction in the state of Louisiana, also hitting Mississippi this Monday (30), but already as a tropical storm.
