Researchers In Tulsa For Conference Using Drones To Study Oklahoma Weather

Oklahomans are no strangers to severe weather, which is why researchers in atmospheric and earth sciences from all over the world are in Tulsa right now for a conference with the International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft, also known as ISARRA.

The conference involves weather drones flying around the state.

Zach Yap and other researchers with the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, known as OAIRE, took News On 6 to a landing spot in Downtown Tulsa to learn about a weather drone called a Meteodrone.

“We've flown it out of this location here a couple of times just to gather data and get practice, but most of the time, we're flying in Stillwater or we've flown it down in Broken Bow during the last solar eclipse,” said Yap.

With the push of a button, this drone can automatically fly up to 20,000 feet.

Local researchers are using this technology to study Oklahoma weather.

Yap said that compared to a weather balloon, which costs about $500 each time and is not reusable, this weather drone is a better option for measuring temperature, humidity, wind and air pressure.

“It allows us to get more data easily without any of the necessary costs and red tape,” said Yap.

The drone comes from Meteomatics, a weather technologies developer based in Switzerland.

Brad Guay with Meteomatics said the company chose Oklahoma for research because of the severe weather here.

“There's still a lot of data gaps around Oklahoma, so starting to fill in those gaps with new technologies can help people to kept safer during severe weather situations,” said Guay.

He says the company's goal for Oklahoma is to have many Meteodrones around the state, controlled from one central location like what's been done in Norway.

For now, researchers have plans for dozens of drones next week.

“As well as centering around the Tulsa area to look at specific things, like what's called the urban heat island, so it's the effect of urbanization on the atmosphere and the boundary layer,” said Yap.

The drone weighs about 12 pounds.

Researchers say next week, you are welcome to come say 'Hi' as long as they are not flying a drone at the time.