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VORTEX 2

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Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment

What
  • Field Deployment
  • vortex
When May 10, 2009 12:00 AM to
Jun 13, 2009 12:00 AM
Where High Plains
Contact Name
Contact Phone 303-497-8774
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VORTEX 2 will investigate tornadogenesis, tornado structure and the relationships between tornandos, their parent thunderstorms and the larger-scale environment by using an armada of ground-based, mobile measurement systems including the DOW's and EOL's MGAUS. The project is planned for Spring 2009.

VORTEX2 will be the largest and most ambitious attempt to explore tornadoes, their origins, their structure and evolution, and how to increase the accuracy and timeliness of tornado forecasts and warnings.

It is anticipated that approximately 30 vehicles and 50 scientists and students will participate in field activities.  Mobile and deployable instrumentation that is likely to be employed include:

A.  Mobile radars:  DOW6, DOW7, Rapid-Scan DOW, SMART-Radar-1, SMART-RADAR-2, NOXP, 
                                            UMASS-X, UMASS-W, CIRPAS [9 mobile radars total]
B. Deployable instrumentation:  Tornado-PODs (12)   Sticknets (24)    [36 platforms total]
C. Unmanned instrumented aerial system
D. MGAUS mobile ballooning facilities:  NSSL MGAUS (2), NCAR MGAUS (2)   [4 total]
E. Mobile mesonets:  6 dedicated, 3 deploying PODS   [9 vehicles total]

In addition an extensive array of fixed instrumentation based in Oklahoma will be integrated when severe weather systems cross that region.  These include:
A. Norman Phased Array Radar
B. CASA radar array
C. Oklahoma mesonet
D. KOUN dual-polarized WSR-88D
 
Other research efforts related to VORTEX2 include damage surveying, photogrammetry, mobile disdrometry, and
numerical simulation efforts.
Information concerning the funding status of individual proposals should be directed to the specific investigators or NSF.

The VORTEX2 steering committee, who can answer many questions related to the goals and planning of VORTEX2, is:

Howie Bluestein:  University of Oklahoma                            Don Burgess, Coop. Inst for Mesoscale Meteor. St., OU
David Dowell, National Center for Atmospheric Research       Paul Markowski, Pennsylvania State University 
Yvette Richardson, Pennsylvania State University                  Erik Rasmussen, Rasmussen Systems
Lou Wicker, NOAA                                                              Joshua Wurman, Center for Severe Weather Research

More information about this event…

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Staff Profile

José Meitín

José Meitín As a field project coordinator, it's not enough for José Meitín to understand complex scientific concepts and know how to use cutting-edge instruments. He also needs a flair for foreign diplomacy, proficiency in several languages, and a capacity for great patience when dealing with customs officials.

Britt Stephens

Britt Stephens became fascinated with Earth sciences during high school field trips in northeastern Oregon, where he grew up. When he started college at Harvard University, he was determined to branch out into new subjects.

Henry Boynton

Henry Boynton can tell you what the atmosphere looks like at 51,000 feet above Earth's surface, a good 15,000 feet higher than most commercial airplanes venture. "The biggest thing you notice is that the sky is a lot bluer," he observes.

 

Marcel Verstraete

When Marcel Verstraete came to work at NCAR in May 1962, construction of the Mesa Lab was still years in the future. Scientists used slide rules instead of computers. And because there were no satellites to carry instruments, a major goal...

 

José Meitín

José Meitín As a field project coordinator, it's not enough for José Meitín to understand complex scientific concepts and know how to use cutting-edge instruments. He also needs a flair for foreign diplomacy, proficiency in several languages, and a capacity for great patience when dealing with customs officials.