Weather Forecasting Drones – Meteodrone

 

Forecasting global weather eight to ten days ahead is notoriously unreliable because the data is notoriously unreliable.

This far ahead may not sound like a big deal, but it's important for livelihoods, such as farmers who need to know when to harvest their crops, or pilots who need weather data to plan their flights. For those who rely on weather data, or brick makers to know when they need to build bricks and other things. But on a broader scale, meteorological data can help scientists better understand the future of climate change, particularly the unprecedented hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves the planet is experiencing.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but Swiss company Meteomatics believes there may be a new tool that can help: The Meteodrone weather drone. The Weather Drone is specially designed for collecting weather data. Meteomatics' drone dives up to 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) into the Earth's atmosphere with miniature weather instruments and sensors that measure temperature, dew point, relative humidity, wind speed, and pressure. It also has an onboard camera that allows the entire drone to withstand adverse weather conditions such as ice that can stall propellers and parachutes.

Data is automatically recorded by the drone during flight and can be downloaded to the computer by the operator after the drone lands. Once the data is processed, it will be ready for transmission through partners of the National Weather Service.

Weather drones like the Meteodrone can not only soar into the Earth's lower atmosphere but also get close to urban environments and offshore areas. This means that we can get the most accurate data for hyperlocal forecasts from these locations. Drones can also provide real-time feeds, making predictions more accurate. Drones can also fly at night, providing highly accurate weather forecast data for the next day. Without this data, meteorologists can make inaccurate forecasts of all kinds of weather conditions, including fog and low clouds, thunderstorm development, and wind.

One particularly exciting thing Meteodrone can do is detect ice, which is generally very difficult. Ice buildup on a drone's wings can prevent the aircraft from staying airborne. This data is especially useful for aerospace companies and long-term climate change research. “The advantage of a meteor drone here is that we can get these constant and frequent profiles when weather events of particular interest or importance are occurring,” says Meteomatics meteorologist Brad Gaye told The Washington Post.

Drones have large weather stations but are still remotely controlled by human pilots. It is also more portable than traditional weather stations and towers. The upcoming US launch of Meteodrone is scheduled for this fall, pending government approval. These are the first weather drones to record weather data in the US, but Meteor Drones have been in use in Switzerland since 2017.

Currently, 15 Meteodrone Metebases collect data in the Alps. These meteorite bases serve as the drone's "home" - a place to take off, land, and recharge its batteries. It is also the communication link between the drone pilot and the drone.