Hurricanes
When a natural disaster occurs, time can be our greatest ally in order to preempt the damage it might cause. The process of predicting an upcoming disaster has been ongoing for hundreds of years. However, only recently have we been able to step away from the shadow of oracle bones and fortunetellers and into the light of science and technology. With modern science at their disposal, scientists and weather forecasters alike must determine not only how to better gather information, but how to interoperate and apply this data to save lives and property. Hurricanes have been a destructive natural force for thousands of years; however, modern technology now allows humans a chance to lessen the blow that they might cause. A hurricane is a migratory tropical cyclone that originates over oceans in certain regions near the equator. By most accounts, the modern era of hurricane forecasting began in the 1960s, when satellites could first monitor a storm's progression from space. In the United States, we receive our official hurricane forecasts from the National Hurricane Center in southern Florida. An official forecast results from the study and analysis of complex computer models, along with general knowledge of hurricane formation an
d movement. Ever since the advent of hurricane forecasting, the science has continuously become more accurate because of new technology and human experience. The National Hurricane Center has even estimated that hurricane forecasting has become more accurate by one percent every year for the past 10 years, with this trend continuing into the future. However, computer models are only as good as the information that is used to create them. The single area in which improvement could most greatly effect the prediction of hurricanes is aircraft reconnaissance. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which is a United States Air Force Reserve unit known as the Hurricane Hunters, has flown aircraft into hurricanes since 1948 to gather data for forecasters to use in their computer models. Recently, in order to further our knowledge of hurricanes, the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has instituted a program of increased development for forecasting instruments. The pilots that fly into and around storms can now employ advanced technologies such as Global Positioning System Dropwindsondes, instruments that measure air pressure, temperature, humidit
Some common words found in the essay are:
System Dropwindsondes, Ocean Seasonal, , Hurricane Center, Administration NOAA, Hurricane Hunters, computer models, Force Reserve, El Nino, hurricane forecasting, National Hurricane, national hurricane center, hurricane center, national hurricane, hurricane hunters, hurricane activity, hurricane prediction, knowledge hurricanes,
Approximate Word count = 812
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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