I love weather. I especially love the power and intensity that comes with forms of severe weather. No one likes the damage to property or loss of life, including me, but I can’t help but be compelled toward severe weather. Around this time of year, all eyes start to move toward the tropics. It’s very close to hurricane season and this has repercussions on all of us. When a major hurricane hits land, it brings with it an enormous amount of damage potential. Researchers can’t stop that aspect of hurricanes [yet], but they can help save lives. Vortrac is aimed with that goal in mind.
Vortrac utilizes NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration) network of doppler radars along the coastline. The difference is how that information is being processed. Wen-Chau Lee of NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) has led a team of scientists at NCAR and the NRL (Naval Research Laboratory) in developing technology that can give them accurate 3D images every 6 minutes. The technology can pick up wind speeds and infer barometric pressure. All of which will allow meteorologists the ability to scrutinize hurricanes for 10-15 hours before landfall. Previously, they had to rely on the hurricane hunters to fly into the hurricanes to get accurate readings. But flights can only happen every few hours, and that loses precious time for people on the ground.
Hurricanes can increase in strength very rapidly. And sometimes residents can get caught off guard. When that happens, loss of life increases. Maybe now, we can reduce fatalities from hurricanes and provide weather buffs a new tool.
Source: The source of this material is the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). © 2002 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. All Rights Reserved.
Illustration Source: Steve Deyo, ©UCAR
I wonder if someday the effect of large timber stands will be measured as it relates to hurricanes?