Weather forecasts could be aided by sensor-laden aircraft
By Darren Murph 
posted May 1st 2007 11:55AM
posted May 1st 2007 11:55AM
We know, it's rather disappointing to check the local forecast on your Melitta MS1MSB or Wii weather channel, only to find the conditions completely not as you expected once you stroll outside, but those guesstimates could be getting a bit of help from weather tracking airplanes. Boeing has filed a patent application that would "using airborne radars to measure wind vectors," essentially strapping weather-sensing nodes onto an airplane so that it collects real-time data whilst passing across remote regions of the planet that typically get ignored. Better yet, the data could even be cross-referenced with nearby planes in order to estimate the best actual forecast for a given region based on numerous information sources, potentially yielding a more accurate look at forthcoming weather. Of course, all logic here would point to humanoid meteorologists being established to interpret and disseminate the information, but until all this gets real, we'll be playin' it safe with the weather forecasting umbrella.[Via NewScientistTech]
So the doppler 4000X my TV station has been pitching to me sucks?
better yet, just strap them on a number of passenger planes for free data.
I have a Google weather gadget. It doesn't say it is storming until 10-20 minutes after the storm has already passed. I use Weather Underground quite frequently. It gives detailed forecasts and many, many options.
This doesn't sound like something that should be awarded a patent. Unless it's a new type of sensor. But I doubt that it is.
Who needs more accurate forecasts when the Accuweather hourlies always say its not going to rain...
at which point, there is a massive downpour, THEN suddenly you see the forecast updated. :rolleyes:
Or... rain is forecasted. Sunshine.
Forecast: Los Angeles, CA
Clear Skies
Winds: 500 mph
Temperature: -10 F
1) The reason the wii weather is often out-of-sync is because it gets its weather from a Japanese Company (weathernews) whose base is (guess!) mostly in Japan. This means the data for the US is not top priority really, and updated less often.
2) The reason your weather on iGoogle or weather.com or wherever you go might not be PERFECT is because observations are not taken every second. Most NWS stations take 'official' observations every hour, more so during severe weather situations. Most automated stations will, however, update more often than this, its just a matter of where to find the data. WeatherUnderground is great for this because you can have the option to display personal weather stations, most of which update every minute or less.
3) If a weather value is ever something outrageous (usually 999 or -999) that means something is broken (eg. a anemometer (wind thingie with the little cups) got taken out, etc.)
4) This technology in the story is nothing new; data has been reported both automatically and manually from pilots and sailors ever since the beginning of NOAA/Department of Commerce stated to keep records.
5) Your awesome Doppler 4000X SUPER MAX Plus ULTRA-EDITION doesn't even show you Doppler data- it's showing you reflectivity data.
6) Most doppler radars can do this anyway, the public just never sees it (you can find it by going here: http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/index_lite.php , clicking on the area you want to look at, and then on the left, under the Velocity heading, click either link below)
More info on Doppler in not-so-technical terms: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wearadar.htm