Although meteorologists have been observing hurricanes for decades, mysteries remain. Scientists can predict where hurricanes will go in the next 24 to 48 hours, but remain uncertain of how much strength a hurricane will gain, or exactly how it will change when it makes landfall. Part of the answer lies at high altitudes, two to three times higher than NOAA and Air Force aircraft that routinely scout hurricanes, and inside the cloud tops which weather satellite cameras cannot penetrate. The most intense precipitation, yellow and white at left, is the eye wall. Also, to the left of center is a gap, or area of weak signal, can be seen between the eye wall and the rain to the right.
Hurricanes typically have rain organized into spiral bands with gaps between bands.
Teamwork Where possible, the NASA flights were coordinated with NOAA's two P-3D Orion patrol aircraft and a Gulfstream jet. NASA will also use data collected by the Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Squadron's WC-130 Hercules Hurricane Hunters. Hood said the team was not sure what would happen during the Aug. 12-Sept. A broken cloud field was visually observed in Bonnie's eye. LASE measurements showed this eye to be quite large and revealed the precise altitudes of clouds within the eye.