Airborne monitoring system and method

摘要

An airborne monitoring system for measuring conditions in the lower atmospheric boundary layer of a tropical cyclone or other concerted atmospheric systems. The system flies on the wind. In the case of a tropical cyclone it flies over the sea, into the eye and tracks the storm, transmitting meteorological data and receiving commands from a remote base station. The system includes a hybrid lifting body tethered from a line contacting the surface of the sea. It is maintained in aerodynamic and hydrodynamic balance at a substantially constant altitude.