Eye of Hurricane Lili as Seen from Noaa Airplane Flying Above the Caribbean
Date: 03-Oct-02
Country: USA
Author: GN
Photo: HO
Hurricane Lili uprooted trees and destroyed homes in Western Cuba with 100 mph (160 kph) winds Tuesday before entering the Gulf of Mexico, where it could threaten the United States.
The NOAA hurricane hunter dropped 15 GPS (Global Positioning System) dropwindsondes into the hurricane.
These devices continuously radio back measurements of pressure, humidity, temperature, and wind direction and speed as they fall toward the sea, providing a detailed look at the structure of the storm and its intensity.
They are made out of fiberboard and carry a PC board with a battery pack. When they hit the water, the electronics short out and stop relaying data.
