Researchers say they’ve collected promising weather data by flying instrument-laden drones into big Western and Midwestern storms. Now they want to expand the project in hopes of learning more about how tornados form.
Drones can penetrate parts of weather systems that other instruments can’t reach, and they can do it at less cost and with less danger than piloted planes, the scientists say.
The University of Colorado and University of Nebraska announced this week they have formed the Unmanned Aircraft System and Severe Storms Research Group to develop the program.
Here are some key questions and answers about the research:
WHY USE DRONES?