Measuring wind speed is challenging because of the dramatic variation with altitude. The air can be still at ground level while a gale is blowing at 10,000ft. Meteorologists rely on measurements made by twice-daily weather balloon launches from sites around the world, supplemented with data gathered by commercial airliners and satellite observation of cloud movements.
In the quest for more detailed wind data, Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) have been carrying out test flights with the Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) on a Gulfstream jet since late 2024.
The AWP fires 200 laser pulses a second that are reflected back by particles of dust, smoke and sea salt in the air. By analysing the returns, the AWP can see how fast each particle is travelling and in which direction. The wind velocity at every point along the laser’s path forms the basis for a 3D wind map. This exact data is more useful to meteorologists than an approximation based on the nearest recent measurement.
“A 3D wind profile can significantly improve weather forecasts, particularly for storms and hurricanes,” says Harshesh Patel, a Noaa researcher.
One aircraft can cover only a limited area, but the airborne AWP is a stepping stone to a more advanced version carried by satellite. This could possibly map the winds worldwide.
