NASA Sponsored Satellite Research Could Provide Better Forecasting of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

A recent proposal, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Chris Ruf of the University of Michigan, has been selected by NASA as part of its small spaceflight investigations of the Earth system. The selected prospoal will make use of data from a group of satellites to make accurate measurements of ocean surface winds throughout the life cycle of tropical storms and hurricanes. The data is expected to lead to better weather forecasting of such major weather events.

The proposal is the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), also includes partnerships with the Southwest Research Institute of Texas, Surrey Satellite Technology of Colorado and NASA Ames Research Center. The mission will use a constellation of small satellites that will be carried to orbit on a single launch vehicle.

According to NASA, “the CYGNSS data will enable scientists, for the first time, to probe key air-sea interaction processes that take place near the inner core of the storms, which are rapidly changing and play large roles in the genesis and intensification of hurricanes. The CYGNSS measurements also may provide information to the hurricane forecast community.”

From their perch high above the Earth, the CYGNSS’s eight micro-satellite observatories will be able to receive both direct and reflected signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The direct signals will be used to exactly pinpoint CYGNSS observatory positions, while the reflected signals respond to ocean surface roughness. Using this information the system will be able to accurately measure the precise wind speed at various points.

“The CYGNSS mission is both a scientific and a programmatic advance for NASA’s Earth science and applications program,” said John Grunsfeld, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate associate administrator in Washington. “CYGNSS will provide vital science data on tropical cyclones, and the CYGNSS team will advance our ability to obtain high-quality Earth science data through smaller, more affordable space systems.”