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 is the primary purpose of the Gulfstream 5 aircraft operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research?

How high can the Gulfstream 5 aircraft fly, and why is this altitude significant for data collection?

What role does the Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling system play in the operations of the Gulfstream 5?

Describe the type of data collected by the Gulfstream 5 aircraft during its missions.

How does the data collected by the Gulfstream 5 aircraft contribute to hurricane forecast models?