Phys.org October 1, 2021 US scientists on Thursday piloted a camera-equipped ocean drone called “Saildrone” that looks like a robotic surfboard into a Category 4 hurricane barreling across the Atlantic Ocean. Dramatic footage released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed the small craft battling 50-feet high waves and winds of over 120 mph inside Hurricane Sam. Powered by wind and 23 feet in length, it carries a specially designed “hurricane wing,” designed to withstand punishing conditions as it collects data to help scientists learn more about one of Earth’s most destructive forces. Saildrone’s website indicates it can record […]
Tag Archives: Severe weather
Passing aircraft wring extra snow and rain out of clouds
Science Daily January 31, 2019 Researchers in the UK observed that existing precipitation is enhanced locally on spatial scales from a few kilometers to several tens of kilometers. The precipitation intensity in these localized areas was 6‐14 times higher than the background large‐scale precipitation rate. Surface observations and dual‐polarization radar data indicate that snowflakes within the ice portion of the falling precipitation in the intensification regions are larger and more isotropic than in the surrounding precipitation. There appears to be an increase in the ice particle number concentration within the intensification region. The observed events were linked to arriving or […]
Forecasters may be looking in wrong place when predicting tornadoes
Science Daily December 21, 2018 Researchers at Ohio University demonstrated that tornadoes form at the ground and move up rapidly, contrary to the long-held hypothesis that most tornadoes form at cloud level and descend to touch the earth. They coupled visual and near-surface radar observations from the El Reno 2013 case enabled them to analyze the tornadogenesis process. The findings indicate that a tornado-strength vortex can be active on the ground for a minute or more before the deeper tornadic column forms and is picked up by conventional radar. However, tornado warnings are issued based on radar readings that pick-up […]
Researchers rise to challenge of predicting hail, tornadoes three weeks in advance
Science Daily November 28, 2018 A team of researchers in the US (Colorado State University, Stoney Brook University) used a reliable tropical weather pattern called the Madden-Julian Oscillation, which can influence weather in distant parts of the Earth, to demonstrate the ability to make skillful predictions of severe weather across the Plains and southeastern United States, including hail and tornadoes, in 2-to-5-weeks-in-advance period. They validated their predictions using available datasets looking at what the Madden-Julian Oscillation was doing about three weeks ahead of severe weather in these areas during the typical severe-weather months of March through June. Although forecasting weeks […]