Improving Hurricane Forecasts for State of Hawai‘i

Federal, State, and academic weather forecasters use computer models to project the strength and track of tropical storms/hurricanes moving towards the State of Hawai‘i. These models require ocean and atmospheric environmental data to produce accurate forecasts. We propose using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to travel into the ocean waters ahead of tropical storms/hurricanes approaching the State and provide forecasters real-time ocean data from 0-500m ocean depth. The AUVs are piloted remotely, no personnel onboard. The US Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean all use AUVs to collect ocean data ahead of tropical storms and provide those data -free- to the National Weather Service (NWS) and other forecasters. Actual in-ocean data from Hawai‘i waters, collected by AUVs during hurricane season (Jun-Nov), will be new for Hawai‘i and local NWS forecasters. Using AUVs improves forecasting and provides residents and businesses with accurate information for approaching storms/hurricanes.