NSF NCAR Gulfstream V Aircraft Returns from Tracking Hurricanes

The Gulfstream 5 aircraft, after a short-term loan to NOAA, is used for high-altitude atmospheric research. It provides critical data on hurricanes, flying up to 51,000 feet to collect information from the Earth's surface to storm tops. Equipped with the Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling system, it deploys GPS dropsondes for real-time atmospheric profiling. The aircraft conducts surveillance flights targeting high-risk storm systems, with processed data sent to the World Meteorological Organization for hurricane forecast models.

What was the primary purpose of the Gulfstream 5 aircraft's loan to NOAA?

• To train new pilots

• To observe dangerous hurricanes

• To conduct high-altitude research

• To undergo maintenance

Which organization operates the NSF Gulfstream 5 aircraft?

• World Meteorological Organization

• Federal Aviation Administration

• National Center for Atmospheric Research

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

How high can the NSF Gulfstream 5 aircraft fly?

• 30,000 feet

• 40,000 feet

• 60,000 feet

• 51,000 feet

What system is used on the aircraft to collect atmospheric profiles?

• Radar system

• Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling system

• Satellite imaging

• Weather balloons

Where is the data collected by the aircraft sent for inclusion in forecast models?

• National Weather Service

• World Meteorological Organization

• European Space Agency

• NASA