2025 NOAA-Uncrewed Surface Vehicle
Atlantic Hurricane Mission

Oshen USV with blue and white sail and logo and a bright yellow Chance USV on the water

Low-cost small Oshen USVs (C-Star, left) and Chance motor-powered USV (MC40, right) (Courtesy of Oshen and Chance Maritime Technologies) (Please do not download and redistribute)

The 2025 NOAA Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) Atlantic hurricane observation mission includes 7 Oshen C-Stars and 1 Chance MC40 USV in the western Atlantic and Gulf of America (see deployment map below), following the success of the experimental 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 missions. New for the 2025 mission are to explore and enhance the capabilities of low-cost small USVs and a motor-powered USV to observe tropical cyclones and hurricanes. Keep up with the progress of the 2025 mission on its blog.

Objectives

(1) Measure near-surface atmospheric and ocean parameters to calculate energy and momentum fluxes between the atmosphere and ocean outside and within hurricanes.

(2) Synchronize the deployments of USVs and other uncrewed systems (ocean gliders, aerial drones) and conventional assets (moored buoys, drifters airborne atmospheric dropsondes and oceanic profilers) to measure the air-sea transition zone (upper ocean, air-sea interface, and marine atmospheric boundary layer).

(3) Transmit data in real time to operational weather prediction centers to improve atmosphere-ocean initial conditions in forecast models.

(4) Transmit data in real time to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to assist hurricane forecasters in their efforts to assess hurricane strength and inform the public.

(5) Apply the observations to understand how air-sea interaction affects hurricane intensity and to advance hurricane prediction models.

Deployments

USV observations cover a broad area from the Gulf of America to the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. The designated observing locations (marked by dots in the map below) have high chances of hurricane occurrence. Observations are sent to worldwide weather prediction centers in real time for their operational forecasts and to NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) to assist hurricane forecasters assessing hurricane strength and informing the public. Data are released for public use in near real time. This project also involves partnerships with NOAA's Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) of the National Weather Service and NOAA's National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS).

Map of Caribbean region marked with planned locations of USVs

USV deployments during the 2025 hurricane season. Pink circles show planned locations of Oshen C-Stars: five positioned to intercept hurricanes between the Caribbean and Bermuda, two stored on land for rapid mobilization and deployment several days ahead of an approaching hurricane. Blue circle shows the planned operating area of a Chance Maritime MC40 USV, which will be tested in winds approaching tropical storm strength. Small blue squares show locations of moored buoys that will be used for collocated intercomparisons with the USVs.

NOAA Mission Team:

Gregory Foltz, NOAA AOML (Co-Lead)
Dongxiao Zhang, NOAA PMEL/University of Washington (Co-Lead)
Chidong Zhang, NOAA PMEL
Lev Looney, NOAA AOML/University of Miami
Andy Chiodi, NOAA PMEL/University of Washington
Edward (Ned) Cokelet, NOAA PMEL (retired)
Nan-Hsun Chi, NOAA PMEL/University of Washington
Edoardo Mazza, NOAA PMEL/University of Washington
Eugene Burger, NOAA PMEL
Kevin O'Brien, NOAA PMEL/University of Washington
Catherine Edwards, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Georgia
Jun Zhang, NOAA AOML/University of Miami
Matthieu Le Henaff, NOAA AOML/University of Miami
Kathleen E. Bailey, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
Joaquin Trinanes, NOAA AOML/University of Santiago, Spain
Sandra Bringas, NOAA AOML/University of Miami
Hyun-Sook Kim, NOAA AOML

This mission is supported by NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, with additional support from NOAA/PMEL and NOAA/AOML, and in collaboration with Oshen, Chance, and the University of Southern Mississippi.