TWR floats: Finding hurricane clues

The influences of ocean conditions and currents on living environments are now more widely appreciated from the Earth’s climate and severe weather conditions to fisheries and biodiversity. Sustained and widespread measurements are needed to provide essential clues for understanding the oceans, for effective monitoring of environmental changes, and for helping to clarify the long-term effects of global warming. Teledyne Webb Research were pioneers of unmanned undersea glider technology. Accurately predicting a hurricane’s landfall and strength saves lives. For exploring ocean conditions beneath hurricanes, TWR’s EM-APEX floats must be deployed at short notice ahead of moving storms; and are air-dropped by parachute from an Air Force WC-130J aircraft based out of Keesler AFB, Miss. When hurricane Michael entered the Gulf of Mexico in October 2018, three EM-APEX floats were launched into its path by a research team led by Professor Nick Shay, and dropped from a WC-130J Hercules aircraft by the Hurricane Hunters at Kessler AFB. The floats are modified for collecting weather information in hurricanes. (Source: Marine Link 02/20/20) https://www.marinelink.com/news/measuring-hostile-ocean-beneath-475803.