US and French researchers are sending hot air balloons with 300 instrument packages from Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. Their mission: gather atmospheric data from regions where some of the deadliest hurricanes develop. The first balloon was released from Nigeria August 28 and is now drifting toward the Caribbean some 65,000 to 70,000 feet.

Twice a day scientists in France will command the balloon to release its payload, known as driftsonde. As the driftsonde parachutes back to earth, it will measure weather conditions and send the info back to the balloon. While these balloons may sound old tech, the French National Center for Scientific Research says the project is expected to gather the same data that would usually require a fleet of research aircraft.  

"Data from the driftsondes should help characterize the conditions that either foster or suppress hurricane formation," said the National Science Foundation.

Seven more balloons will be released from Nigeria until late September, the peak period of hurricane formation over the tropical Atlantic. The driftsondes are designed to gather info on surges of hot, dry air from Sahel region of Africa that flows into the Atlantic. The hot air surges are known to blow dusts from African all the way to Florida and are thought to affect the Atlantic weather systems.