The Ocean and Coastal Observing –Virgin Islands (OCOVI) team that is part of the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS), partnered up with RUCOOL to deploy the RU29 glider hurricane hunter just south of St. Thomas this week. Video of the deployment can be viewed here. Data from this glider is available here.

The goal of these types of glider deployments is to improve understanding of the rapid co-evolution of the ocean and atmosphere as hurricanes approach landfall, affecting the storm’s intensity.  Continued advances in hurricane science, leading to increased forecast accuracy and lead times, is required to promote more timely and effective hurricane responses that save lives, property and livelihoods. We thank Vetelsen Foundation for supporting this important research.