SPoRT Leads Hurricane Forecast Briefings for NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division

Each year, the Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducts a field campaign to provide real-time observations to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. The field program's three aircraft collect data that are invaluable in improving the accuracy of hurricane forecasts. An integral part of this field campaign is a daily weather briefing led by scientists from HRD, other federal agencies, and universities. This briefing is used to make important decisions regarding aircraft deployment and flight patterns.

Patrick Duran of the Short-Term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) center led HRD’s daily weather briefings for 8/9-11/21. The briefings consisted of real-time analysis of satellite and aircraft datasets along with an interpretation of model forecasts. The daily meetings provided a forum to feature existing and newly developed SPoRT products to 50-100 hurricane researchers and forecasters from across the nation. For example, the Gridded NUCAPS sounding product, led by SPoRT scientist Emily Berndt, showed how dry air near Tropical Storm Fred inhibited the storm’s intensification. Additionally, new Geostationary Lightning Mapper products developed by SPoRT’s  Christopher Schultz and Roger Allen were shown to help characterize thunderstorms within Tropical Storm Fred. SPoRT scientists will continue to participate in the briefings throughout the hurricane season to help identify new applications for NASA data sets in hurricane forecasting.

sportLogoHQ
Scroll to Top