WindBorn: The AI-Powered Hurricane Hunter

WindBorn: The AI-Powered Hurricane Hunter

Neural networks have revolutionized weather forecasting. For example, the accuracy of three-day forecasts has nearly reached 100% in recent years. Yet, long-term forecasting still lacks this precision. This challenge is being tackled by WindBorne Systems Inc., a startup that has upgraded relevant equipment and integrated AI.

How Are AI Startups Improving Weather Forecasts? | The Coinomist  

What shortcomings in traditional weather data collection is WindBorne addressing? How does WindBorne’s hardware solution differ from conventional weather balloons? How does artificial intelligence assist entrepreneurs in enhancing the collection and analysis of climatic data? Discover the answers on our website.

AI Weather Forecasting: How It Works

The advantage of using artificial intelligence in weather forecasting lies in the ability to utilize a vast array of statistical information collected over the last century—from soil conditions and surface waters of the oceans to changes in the upper atmosphere.

The accuracy of these forecasts directly depends on the volume and quality of new data that can come from ground stations, weather balloons, ships, planes, and, ultimately, artificial satellites. Currently, data from satellites and weather balloons play a pivotal role. 

Traditional Weather Balloon Source: Wikipedia

Every day, thousands of balloons are launched worldwide by both government and private organizations to track atmospheric conditions. This simple and cost-effective technology requires no special equipment beyond a helium balloon and a sensor. Weather balloons are essential for gathering data on temperature, wind speed, humidity, and more in the upper atmosphere.

Despite their utility, traditional technology has its limitations—weather balloons are at the mercy of the wind, only take measurements at certain altitudes, and have a relatively short operational life.

The Essence of the WindBorne Project

WindBorne Systems Inc., a startup founded in 2019 in California, has taken on the challenge of addressing the shortcomings of traditional weather balloons. The developers have reimagined the balloon design, making WindBorne’s probes resemble sails or wings. Their complex ballast system allows operators to adjust the balloon's flight altitude and directly control its directional movement. 

Advanced AI Weather Balloon by WindBorne Source: Windbornesystems.com

Like sailboats, WindBorne's probes are capable of moving at angles to the wind and can navigate by tacking. These probes are equipped with numerous sensors that record measurements across various altitudes during their journey, capturing data from the entire vertical air column.

Moreover, these probes are designed to function for many days. Some WindBorne balloons have even completed global circumnavigations, consistently gathering atmospheric data.

The company has also developed its proprietary AI-based forecasting model, designed for real-time data processing. This model was trained using the extensive historical data archive from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), recognized as a leading global weather forecasting center. ECMWF's database includes detailed records of hourly weather changes across the globe dating back to 1940. 

To study air currents in the Pacific Ocean, probes are launched from locations in the USA, South Korea, and the Bahamas. For research on the west coast of Africa, launches are conducted from the Cape Verde Islands. This strategic deployment enables WindBorne to monitor the development and behavior of atmospheric eddies, referred to as cyclones in Europe, typhoons in the Pacific region, and hurricanes in the North Atlantic.

Regular launches provide a comprehensive overview and ensure a continuous flow of global data, while specific programmed ascensions of the probes collect detailed information on particular weather phenomena.

Kai Marshland, co-founder of WindBorne, emphasizes that the company's long-term goal is to maintain a fleet of 10,000 active probes simultaneously to achieve a complete representation of atmospheric conditions around the planet.

What I want is for weather to be like a calendar. It affects your operations, you know that it exists. But it isn’t something unexpected

he noted.

WindBorne Aids in Hurricane Tracking 

In 2022, the work of the startup WindBorne captured the interest of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Following this, NOAA collaborated with WindBorne to study atmospheric flows in the Pacific Ocean.

NOAA recognized that the data could be a valuable addition to their forecasting capabilities. They also noted that WindBorne's model could have improved the accuracy of the forecast trajectory for Hurricane Fiona in 2022 by 18%. Hurricane Fiona was a Category 5 storm that impacted the Atlantic coast of Canada.

Scientists generally have a good understanding of the origins of hurricanes, which typically begin as tropical storms off the west coast of Africa. These storms cross the ocean, intensifying into hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Basin before moving northward along the coast of the Americas and usually dissipating in the ocean.

However, some of these cyclones exhibit unusual behavior and make landfall, causing significant disasters. While orbital observation allows for tracking these storms at any moment, it does not provide precise details about wind speed or potential changes in trajectory. This specific data requires direct measurements of air and ocean temperatures, as well as the surrounding wind patterns near the hurricane.  

WindBorne’s probes are specifically designed to handle this task. The company believes that the 2024 hurricane season will be a critical time for testing its technology, typically peaking in September and October when ocean waters are at their warmest.  

2024 has already seen intense storm activity as early as June. During this period, the WindBorne team launched balloons from Cape Verde, a crucial area for hurricane formation. The startup has noted that the current demand for data from energy companies, civil aviation, and the shipping industry far exceeds WindBorne’s operational capabilities. This clearly indicates a significant opportunity for growth.