Weather reconnaissance

The WP-3D Orion aircraft flown by the NOAA Hurricane Hunters are heavily instrumented flying laboratories specifically modified to take atmospheric and radar measurements within tropical cyclones and winter storms.

The NOAA Gulfstream IV high altitude jet conducts hurricane surveillance flying upwards of 4,000 miles (6,400 km) each flight to document upper and lower level winds that affect the movement of tropical cyclones.

Watercraft deployed for use as weather ships have fallen out of favor due to their high operating cost.

Images from satellites provided a resource for forecasting weather for NASA Space Shuttle launches and landings.

[7] Prior to shuttle launches or landings, pilots fly aircraft that provide cloud, wind, turbulence, visibility, and precipitation information.

This complements radar and satellite data and only provides information that is useful for short-term (up to four hours before launch or landing) but not long-term forecasting.

Aerial reconnaissance often provides a more accurate assessment of weather conditions than radar or satellite imagery.