Experts at NASA's Ames Research Center have managed to map the atmosphere using birds equipped with sensors, allowing for the study of air above the open ocean. The researchers employed great frigatebirds (Fregata major), which reside in tropical islands in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. These birds have a wingspan of 2-3 meters and typically fly at altitudes of 2-4 kilometers, making them suitable for studying the boundary layer of the atmosphere, where many weather and climate processes occur.
It is worth noting that "current methods used for monitoring the atmosphere depend on ground measurements and remote sensing, but are difficult to apply when it comes to collecting data over vast areas of open ocean." The frigatebirds successfully executed this task, allowing scientists to gather information about the atmosphere in various weather conditions and times of day in the Palmyra Atoll region, located in the Pacific south of Hawaii. According to the scientists, the information collected with the help of these birds will assist in improving weather forecasts, climate change predictions, and data related to air quality.
