Which dictionary entry best supports the meaning of the word reconnaissance as used in the excerpt? re·con·nais·sance | ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s \ noun

Full question:

Read the adapted excerpt from “NOAA Hurricane Hunters” by NOAA.

In addition to doing research to help scientists understand hurricanes and other kinds of tropical storms, NOAA's P-3s also do storm reconnaissance missions. The main purpose of these missions is to locate the center of the storm and measure central pressure and surface winds around the eye. Information from both research and reconnaissance flights directly contribute to the safety of people living along and visiting the vulnerable Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Which dictionary entry best supports the meaning of the word reconnaissance as used in the excerpt?

re·con·nais·sance | ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s \ noun

Answer and Explanation:

The dictionary meaning of reconnaissance is to obtain information by way of preliminary survey of a region, usually for military purposes. In the example given above, reconnaissance is used in the context of the first meaning; to gain information, not necessarily for military purposes. In other words, reconnaissance in this case aims to get information for other purposes(not for military), for purposes of understanding storms in a certain region to secure the safety of people in that region.