NASA’s CPEX-CV mission, conducted in September 2022, gathered crucial data on the early stages of hurricane formation off the northwestern coast of Africa. The mission focused on the interactions between dust, moisture, clouds, and oceans, notably studying how Saharan dust affects tropical clouds to create “disturbances” that can evolve into hurricanes. Over the course of a month, scientists flew approximately 100 hours aboard the DC-8 Airborne Laboratory, originating from Cabo Verde, and employed advanced instruments like remote-sensing lidars, radars, and dropsondes to collect atmospheric data.
On September 22, 2022, the team recorded one of the largest dust events ever sampled, contributing to their understanding of how dust and atmospheric conditions influence storm development. The results, made publicly available on April 1, 2023, aim to enhance future research and weather forecasting, especially in atmospheric science. Researchers like Will McCarty and Amin Nehrir emphasize the importance of this “discovery data” for answering unaddressed questions in the years to come. Overall, the CPEX-CV mission represents a significant advancement in meteorological data collection, complementing satellite observations and providing detailed insights into storm formation processes.
