The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center has partnered with a new technology provider to improve early warning systems for extreme weather events.
Sofar Ocean makes ocean-data capturing sensors and has partnered with the National Mesonet Program, KBR and Synoptic Data PBC to supply real-time ocean sensor data to the NHC. The collaboration provides the center with ocean temperatures and atmospheric data, improving early warning systems for extreme weather events.
Deployed in oceans around the world, Sofar’s spotter buoys deliver data on wave activity, wind sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure. The buoys are airdropped into the paths of hurricanes 24 to 48 hours before they make landfall, giving forecasters more insight into the storm conditions. Data from the sensors fills an observational gap that satellites and other sources cannot capture, especially in the open ocean.
Additionally, Sofar’s ocean observations have been integrated into the National Weather Service’s Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, the primary provider of information to the NHC.
“Real-time data is essential for reducing weather and climate uncertainty, and forecasting extreme storms,” Tim Janssen, co-founder and CEO of Sofar, said in a statement. He explained that the company’s global network of sensors makes direct observations at a “planetary scale, providing the NHC with the ground truth data it needs to support early-warning systems.”
The integration of Sofar’s data into the NWS platform was driven by the weather service’s Total Operational Weather Readiness – Satellites team, along with contractor KBR and Synoptic Data PBC. Synoptic facilitates the integration of Sofar’s data into the NWS and NHC.
Curtis Marshall, program manager for the NWS, added, “Wind, wave and temperature data from these buoys could be useful to weather forecasters, as exemplified by their utility to the operations of the National Hurricane Center and the Ocean Prediction Center.”
In addition to its contributions to weather forecasts, Sofar’s data system enhances hydrographers’ understanding of ocean currents, sea surface dynamics and underwater conditions. These are critical elements for coastal mapping, navigation and marine safety.
The sensors also offer insights into how extreme weather impacts marine environments, allowing for more precise and timely mapping of seafloors and coastlines. This could improve the safety of maritime operations.