Global Hawk Successfully Collects Data on Hurricane Matthew
Last week, NASA’s Global Hawk UAS successfully collected a plethora of data on Hurricane Matthew as it churned up the East Coast.
For NASA, it was the first time it has flown its UAS on three consecutive, 24-hour hurricane missions with a minimal turnaround time.
Some of the data collected by the Global Hawk included temperature, relative humidity, pressure and winds. That data was then sent to the National Hurricane Center in Florida, the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and several modeling centers across the world.
Data collected by the Global Hawk was used in the National Hurricane Center’s forecaster discussions 46 and 47. Some of the integral information included in discussions 46 and 47 were wind gusts, the storm’s location and where it was headed, and information on storm surge flooding occurring, specifically in and around North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
The Global Hawk, in coordination with the National Hurricane Center and manned aircraft, also collected information ahead of Hurricane Nicole, which is forecast to soon hit Bermuda.
