Figuring Out What Makes Tropical Storms Form Into Hurricanes

Posted: Sep 2, 2010 11:58 AM by Melissa Canone

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - NASA scientists are flying into
Hurricane Earl to gather data about what makes some tropical storms
intensify while others fizzle.
The flight is part of a six-week NASA research mission to
collect information that could help forecasters accurately predict
how strong a hurricane will be.
Forecasters have gotten better at predicting where a storm will
go, but they still are puzzled by what makes some storms strengthen
into destructive hurricanes.
A former passenger airliner converted into a flying laboratory
took off Thursday from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Airport, bound for Earl as it spins towards the Outer Banks of
North Carolina.
NASA also is flying a second airborne lab and an unmanned drone
as part of the mission.

Topics: Figuring, Out, What, Makes, Tropical, Storms, Form, Into, Hurricanes