Data processing and flight tracking
The measurements transmitted using the Iridium communication system will be processed immediately in order to know the precise location of the balloon and the atmospheric measurements in near real time. Using this information, the forecasted position of the Aeroclipper for the next couple of days will be computed every hour in order to analyze the risk of grounding.
The Aeroclipper data assimilation in numerical weather prediction models is of primary importance for estimating the potential role of these measurements in operational TC forecasts. Several laboratories are already engaged in this task.