NOAA has long used balloons to collect data on atmospheric conditions and help predict the weather. Now, working with a Swiss weather technology company and other providers, the agency is adding drones to its forecasting arsenal. Meteomatics is currently conducting flights of its proprietary hexacopter Meteodrones at a pilot site owned by the University of Oklahoma, near … [Read more...] about Swiss Company Adding Drones to NOAA’s Forecasting Toolbox
Weather
NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
Long-running partnership with Saildrone aims to improve hurricane forecasting and rapid intensification models Saildrone announced plans to deploy 10 Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during the 2026 hurricane season in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The mission will support hurricane forecasting and storm research … [Read more...] about NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
Woolpert and Saildrone Deploy Autonomous USV for NOAA Seafloor Mapping Near Mariana Islands
Woolpert and Saildrone have partnered to collect and process bathymetric survey data for NOAA's Ocean Exploration and Office of Coast Survey. The mission supports safe navigation and ocean mapping initiatives, including the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Seabed 2030 initiative. The … [Read more...] about Woolpert and Saildrone Deploy Autonomous USV for NOAA Seafloor Mapping Near Mariana Islands
Meteodrones Provide New Data to National Weather Service
Switzerland-based meteorology data company Meteomatics has announced a partnership with NOAA's National Mesonet Program (NMP) to integrate operational weather drone data into National Weather Service forecasts—marking the first time drone-collected observations will feed directly into U.S. weather forecasting operations. Meteodrones Fill Critical Data Gaps The Meteodrones … [Read more...] about Meteodrones Provide New Data to National Weather Service
