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Arlene Cole can tell you the weather for each day as far back as 1957. That's when she started a personal diary with her observations. Even with today's technological advances, hand measurements by volunteer observers are the most efficient, cost-effective way to collect that data.
Last summer, Saildrone and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sent five uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) “storm chasing” the Atlantic Ocean to improve hurricane forecasting. One of them sailed through the eye of category 4 Hurricane Sam. Battling massive waves and winds over 100 mph, the vehicle not only survived intact but sent back the first-ever live video footage from inside the eye of the storm, marking a new era of hurricane observation.