Weather despite our best efforts is difficult to, accurately predict. In this modern information age the weather remains about as easy as accurately predicting the next winning Powerball numbers.
However, with the installation of a new type of humidity sensor, the fleets of commercial passenger jets that inhabit our skies could soon provide meteorologists an unprecedented look at the sky—in real-time.
Developed through a partnership between Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and SpectraSensors, the Water Vapor Sensing System (WVSS-II) will take hundreds of humidity samples over the course of each flight and relay that data to the National Weather Service.
You see, relative humidity levels at various heights within the atmosphere provide vital hints to upcoming weather patterns. Forecasters use this data to predict the timing of fog, cloud cover, cloud ceilings, and all the other information airlines need to fly safely. And instead of employing traditional weather balloons stationed around the country to do this—which only sample twice a day—the NOAA wants to use planes themselves. They’re already up there—making thousands of flights every day—so we might as well put them to use, right?
The humidity data the new sensor system sends to the National Weather Service.
“Water vapor is the most rapid-changing and under-sampled element in the atmosphere,” Carl Weiss, an aviation meteorologist for NOAA, said in a press statement. “On the heels of a tumultuous weather year, WVSS-II is part of a larger initiative contributing to Weather Ready Nation, our initiative focused on building community resilience in the face of extreme weather events. WVSS-II data upon takeoffs and landings allow forecasters to monitor and stay on top of how moisture is changing in the atmosphere, specifically in severe weather situations when preparedness is especially important.”
The project is still in its early stages, since only Southwest Airlines has signed on so far. However, should this proof of concept work, other carriers are likely to follow—and our ability to forecast the weather will get a huge boost in accuracy. And that won’t just help warn us of impending weather events—it could also put an end to the ubiquitous panic-mongering, too.
More Stories
Weather Season 2021
[caption id="attachment_9798" align="alignnone" width="598"] Earth a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions[/caption] Added a few new links to...
Why Russia’s Hypersonic Missiles Can’t Be Seen on Radar | Military.com
The age of Russian superweapons is upon us -- at least that's what President Vladimir Putin wants us to believe....
Some Weird Gas Balls Are Swirling Around Sagittarius A*
Scientists have discovered a new class of celestial objects orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of...
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Lands 2 Boosters, Core Clips Drone Ship
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch went pretty well this afternoon, with the rocket’s two partially reusable Falcon 9 strap-on boosters making...
Video: The Ocean’s Robots May Soon Enjoy High-Speed Internet
There’s a place where the internet, Wi-Fi, and GPS do not exist. Communication is haphazard: Sometimes messages arrive different times...
Air Force X-37B space plane at 500 days in orbit.
The latest secretive mission of the United States Air Force's X-37B space plane has cruised beyond 500 days in Earth...