Posted on 09/23/2022 1:28:21 PM PDT by Red Badger
The powerful Category 4 storm is making its way across the Atlantic as a Saildrone investigates it from sea level.
An orange drone ship floats on quiet ocean waves.
Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 explored the insides of major Hurricane Sam in 2021. SD 1078 is a similar drone. Saildrone/NOAA
It's tempting to ascribe human characteristics of bravery and fearlessness to Saildrone Explorer SD 1078, an uncrewed wave-rider that dove into the heart of the devastating Hurricane Fiona in the Atlantic Ocean this week. SD 1078 sent back stomach-flipping footage of massive, churning waves on Thursday.
Autonomous ocean vehicle company Saildrone shared two versions of the video captured as the drone battled 50-foot (15-meter) waves and winds in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h). Fiona strengthened into a Category 4 storm this week, meaning it was generating sustained winds of over 130 mph (209 km/h).
In the second video, one side of the screen shows a top-down look at the hurricane's movement, with the drone's location marked near the eye. The other side shows the heaving footage from the drone's camera.
Saildrone is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to monitor and study severe storms in a new way. It's been the norm to send brave airplane crews into hurricanes, but Saildrones can get a different perspective by surfing at sea level.
"The data Saildrone vehicles are gathering will help the science community better understand rapid intensification, giving people living in our coastal communities more time to prepare," said Saildrone founder Richard Jenkins in a statement on Thursday.
VIDEOS AT LINK.................
Saildrones are the latest high-tech weapon in fighting climate change
Saildrone is operating seven drones in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico this season. Last year, a Saildrone delivered the first footage gathered by an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) from inside a major Atlantic hurricane when it sent back video from Hurricane Sam.
Fiona already walloped Puerto Rico and the Dominic Republic, causing extreme flooding and knocking out power. On Thursday, the National Hurricane Center warned of impacts to Bermuda. The storm could reach Atlantic Canada by Friday.
Research has linked the human-caused climate crisis to more extreme and destructive hurricanes. Scientists need all the data they can get on the formation, intensification and movement of hurricanes as they seek to protect human life.
This is one use of technology I can get behind. The video is fascinating.
In some ways and by history, those wooden ships had 'some' advantages over more modern materials. Wood, especially that from old growth forests, has considerable strength along with flexibility that is lacking with metal or fiberglass materials.
Saying this does NOT MEAN that any mariner wants to test an angry sea when it can be avoided! One of our most famous naval leaders of WW2 in the Pacific was Admiral Bill Halsey, a man of decades of sea duty as well as being a licensed pilot (aviation). He commanded his fleet to 'sail' through 2 Typhoons (Pacific Hurricane / Cyclone). The conceit could be that steel ships are crewed by men of steel but the men who survived those storms had words in their diaries that argued that decision by Halsey.
As for these robotic drones bing discussed, the air-dropped 'unpowered' penetrators simply means that there is no significant stored power at the time of drop BUT it is not a permanent condition. Gravity and air can be used to spin a prop that will generate an electric charge in that drone's brief life.
As for that sea-surface drone that transmitted the video, it has solar cells to keep its batteries at a charge. Its propulsion is by the sail-shape of its top structure. The design of these 'Sail Drones' is not to have a specific destination but rather to free-roam and report what the conditions are where it is. Essentially, they are 'cheap throw-aways' that return value by their reports.
Yeah, just another opportunity to support The Current Thing. Yawn.
Untethered weather buoys are nothing new; this rig just has more on-board steering and propulsion. A nice upgrade, but "high-tech weapon" may be overselling it.
Pretty much what I expected to see - waves, rain and clouds.
unpowered?
They drop like rocks?.......................
Libs love destruction, chaos and death...................................
They float like rocks.
Pumice does!...................
“As for these robotic drones bing discussed, the air-dropped ‘unpowered’ penetrators simply means that there is no significant stored power at the time of drop BUT it is not a permanent condition.”
Energy, not power is stored. The max energy is stored prior to release.
Diesel Boat. USS Greenfish SS 351. DBF!
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