WEBVTT

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When a hurricane is
forming, we use a fleet of high-tech

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ocean observing tools
to improve our predictions of the storm.

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Let's take a look at some of this cool
technology.

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The temperature of the ocean
and its level of saltiness or salinity

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can tell us if a hurricane is going
to quickly increase to a Category 5

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or if it will weaken
into a tropical storm.

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Collecting this information
can be dangerous and difficult.

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So, how can we get the information we need
from the surface to the deep ocean?

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Uncrewed ocean observing systems
relay real-time data that informs local forecasts.

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Thousands of Argo floats are currently floating
with ocean currents across the globe.

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These robots dive deep in the water column,
repeatedly sending data to scientists.

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But Argo floats aren't always near a hurricane,
so it's underwater gliders to the rescue.

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These remote-controlled robots monitor waters
where hurricanes often form

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and when a storm is developing
nearby, gliders can be steered

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toward it to collect vital data
from the water column.

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It gets very windy in a hurricane.

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We can measure these high speed winds
with a drifting buoy, or drifter.

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These beach ball-sized instruments drift
with currents, collecting information

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at the surface of the water
and from the air above.

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Drifters are not remote-controlled
like the gliders, but we can deploy them

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from planes and drop them
right into the eye of a storm.

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And speaking of being
in the eye of a hurricane, check out this

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first ever footage from inside Hurricane
Sam captured by a saildrone.

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These gigantic robotic drones are wind
and solar powered

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and can be remote-controlled
to collect critical information

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from the ocean to the atmosphere.

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These are just some of the tools
scientists use

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to observe the ocean
and to better understand hurricanes.

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With more information about the ocean

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and the atmosphere, scientists
are improving hurricane intensity predictions

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and helping communities
prepare for the next storm.