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How do aircraft provide weather data to meteorologists?

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Doppler radar
Weather forecasting Doppler radars, such as this one operated by the U.S. National Weather Service at New Underwood, South Dakota, extract the Doppler frequency shift of the echo produced by a moving target by noting how much the frequency of the received signal differs from the frequency of the signal that was transmitted.

Aircraft provide essential meteorological data through two primary methods: routine commercial reporting and specialized scientific reconnaissance.

  • Commercial Aircraft: High-flying commercial aircraft are equipped with sensors that routinely collect data on temperature and wind. This information is communicated to meteorologists and integrated into global weather analyses and weather map preparations. These measurements are particularly valuable for monitoring high-speed air currents, such as the jet streams near the tropopause.1

  • Scientific Reconnaissance: Specialized research aircraft, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) P-3, are heavily instrumented for detailed atmospheric study. These planes often carry Doppler radar, turbulence sensors, and devices to measure cloud water and ice content. During storm reconnaissance, aircraft may release a dropsonde—an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind speed as it descends through the atmosphere—to provide critical data on the structure and intensity of tropical cyclones.21