In the News
High-Tech ‘Saildrones’ To Help Predict El Niño, Collect Climate Data
Imagine being able to accurately predict extreme weather events such as hurricanes Harvey and Irma months in advance to better prepare those in their paths. Recently in San Francisco Bay, KPIX 5 caught a glimpse of such a future: a boat pulling two high-tech “saildrones” out to the Pacific.
NOAA Launches Drone Sailboats to Monitor El Nino
Two autonomous drone sailboats are ready to sail from Alameda on a six-month, eight thousand mile round trip to the equator. Paul Deanno reports.
Trump pitches tsunami of cuts to NOAA
The Trump administration is planning a tsunami of budget cuts to the federal government's chief climate science agency, gutting Northwest programs from Pacific Coast salmon recovery to ocean weather buoys, to preparation for tsunamis. OCS project is mentioned.
Robot Boats are Sailing the Seven Seas to Predict El Nino
Self-driving boats, kitted out with scientific sensors, could hold the key to avoiding the next major weather disaster. The boats, created by Saildrone, are being used by the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory to enhance data gathered from the Pacific Ocean, where water temperature patterns are helping scientists understand the El Niño phenomenon. Being able to predict the next event could save millions of dollars and countless lives.
NOAA invests $4.5 million to improve ocean observations for weather and climate prediction
NOAA’s Climate Program Office announced today that it is investing $4.5 million in four projects to test technology designed to improve the Tropical Pacific Observing System, an array of buoys in the tropical Pacific used to better understand El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), how it develops, and how it affects Earth’s weather.