What is Digg?23 Comments
- Miketwo345, on 05/20/2009, -0/+3Dugg more for the comments than the article.
However, I disagree with the term "tornado hunters." They're tornado trackers. If they were hunters, they be launching some hi-tech jazz into the storm to nullify the tornado.
Now *that* would be a story! - DirtyVicar, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2Ironically the Great Plains have been in a severe weather drought ever since the experiment started. They're talking about the pattern getting better in maybe 10 to 15 days, but there's a lot of bored field researchers out there right now.
- jander86, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2It's like...Bob's Road...
- agent13x, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2You think everything you just said is something they aren't aware of? They understand what tornadoes are and how they are formed, but they continue to gather more data and yes, they are making a difference. Their sole purpose is not the science of the tornado, but improving prediction times and turning that into effective tornado warnings to save lives.
- morg666, on 05/20/2009, -1/+3I'd respect these guys a lot more if they didn't scream like 12 year old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert every time they saw a tornado.
- frequentFlyer, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1They haven't filmed a single tornado. Vortex2 FAIL.
- TheInformer, on 05/20/2009, -1/+2The best place to find lots of high speed wind is wherever a politician is speaking.
- darlingt, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1These guys are, in essence, following the same mission that the protagonists of "Twister" did -- VORTEX2 is just using more science.
It's so cool to be able to work with some of them.
EDIT: I should really read the article for references before I make them... - jander86, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1Yeah, but have you ever seen Bill Paxton chase a river?
- protogenxl, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1And the TIG brakes down again.
- TheSuperunknown, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1One day I hope we can talk about tornadoes, storm chasing and even meteorology without some ***** bringing up that ***** Twister movie.
- markscott65, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1Here's Reed Timmer's (he's been on Discovery Channel's StormChasers) extreme tornado video site:
http://www.tornadovideos.net/ - BarlowBRob, on 05/20/2009, -0/+1Dugg for living in Tornado Alley
- tpirfan28, on 05/20/2009, -0/+0One of the Weather Channel meteorologists is with the VORTEX2 crew...they stream live video from 12-2PM at the link below and report live on the channel once in a while...
http://www.weather.com/tv/programs/Vortex.html - MV559er, on 05/20/2009, -0/+0Rabbit is good; Rabbit is wise.
- TheSuperunknown, on 05/20/2009, -1/+1Somebody hasn't seen much real chaser footage.
- BorsKaegel, on 05/20/2009, -1/+1Time for...
Twister 2: Let's Twist Again - agent13x, on 05/20/2009, -0/+0@ozziedog
Science is obviously involved in their purpose of predicting tornadoes, but it is a means to an end.
Your idea of predicting a tornado based on actually seeing it form, or the anology of seeing a funnel form in water doesn't exactly line up with tornado prediction. In fact, it doesn't connect at all. Just because the vortex looks the same, they are not formed in the same way at all. The water vortex you are describing is formed by varying flows that cause a spinning pattern at a specific point. Tornadoes are formed by hot air being pushed by a cold front. The hot air rises and cold air sinks which eventually causes a vortex.
You should also note the amount of research that goes into predicting weather in general. Weathermen can tell you if it's going to rain or be sunny based on the weather that is currently west of us (here in the midwest). Therefore, conditions for a possible tornado can be predicted through various methods. A simple water vortex could just be predicted by understanding that two opposing flows of water are going to merge.
The job of the storm chasers are to take the current weather predictions that show tornado formation will be likely, and from there improve the accuracy of the predictions. 80% of tornado warnings are false alarms, and most warnings are only projected about 15 minutes before the tornado forms or touches down. If the storm chasers can improve the accuracy AND give more advanced warnings, lives are saved. I'm sure those people who were saved by the work of the storm chasers would be appreciative of the funding. And personally, I'd feel more comfortable paying these guys to go out and actually study the weather hands-on versus your local tv weatherman sitting in an office and checking resources. - ranold, on 05/20/2009, -1/+1Link of interest..... live video and GPS from some hunters.....
http://www.severestudios.com/
and
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/storm-chasers/live-tra ...
Depending on the weather, activity picks up in the afternoon. - badenglishihave, on 05/20/2009, -2/+1Twister!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117998/ - ozziedog, on 05/20/2009, -2/+1Really? Then show me the formula for tornado prediction based on fluid dynamics? If their purpose is not the science of the tornado then how can they improve prediction times? Looking at the bottom tip of the funnel spout underwater in a tidal river will not help predict where and when whirlpool formation will happen. Prove to me someone has done this experiment and I will keep my mouth shut. Otherwise, tornado chasing looks to be one of the least productive forms of scientific research per dollar spent. It's ***** plain and simple.
- jander86, on 05/20/2009, -2/+1Don't you mean the Jonas Miller Brothers?
- ozziedog, on 05/20/2009, -4/+2Waste of money. It's like trying to describe a horse by analyzing the tail under a microscope. Tornadoes are a result of fluid dynamics. When 2 fluids flow against each other, they form vortices. A tornado is no different than the vortices formed by rivers that flow against a tide. Here is what should be done to understand how tornadoes form. Take a known quantity of water and flow it against another known quantity of water and measure the amount and size of vortices. Then increase and decrease flow rate and measure the vortices created. Then alter angle of incidence of flows and vary speeds and measure the vortices. Then repeat these same experiments with heavier and lighter liquids. Once done, run it through the computer program that independently figured out gravity through measured observation and see if there is some math equation that fits the description. If so, apply it against known tornadoes and the information recorded to see if it fits. If it does, you will have an equation that can predict tornadoes on data. This running around and describing the minutiae of something generated by much larger forces at play will achieve next to nothing for tornado prediction.
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