That’s the title to an article appearing in July 2005 issue of Technology Review. In an effort to improve weather forecasting, sensors are being attached to commuter airplanes and transmitting real-time weather information to a central ground station.Some facts…
- Most weather forms in the lower levels of the atmosphere – below 20,000 feet.
- In the US 69 weather balloons take readings twice a day.
- 64 commuter planes are involved in this project.
- Measurements are taken every time an aircraft takes off or lands: 600-800 per day.
- While cruising, aircraft take periodic measurements.
- AirDat, located in Morrisville, NC processes the sensor data.