Severe Weather
What is severe weather?
Severe Weather Research Objectives:
- To understand the genesis and development of severe weather
- To be able to better predict severe weather events
- To collect data that can be used for modle verification
Severe weather is widely refers to any dangerous meteorological or hydro-meteorological phenomena, of varying duration, with risk of causing major damage, serious social disruption and loss of human life. While there are many types of severe weather, it can vary depending on the latitude, altitude, topography, and atmospheric conditions of a region. Only occurring in certain regions, localized severe weather phenomena are characterized by blizzards, snowstorms, ice storms, and dust storms.
Typically, the term severe weather is used to report significant weather occurrences which develop during strong to severe thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, or extratropical cyclones.
Why do we conduct field studies of severe weather?
The Earth Observing Laboratory studies severe weather to develop a reliable and near world-wide capability for data and information exchange via satellite between ground systems (including radar) and the research aircraft to guide flight around severe weather.
By better understanding the causes of severe weather and how it develops, prediction models can more effectively determine where and when severe weather will occur. This weather prediction and forecasting can help people better prepare themselves and their surroundings to withstand the natural forces that may occur.
EOL field projects studying severe weather:
- PREDICT 2010 :: Studying tropical cyclone development and hurricane formation
- VORTEX II :: Researching how, when and why tornados form throughout the American mid-West
Do you still have questions about severe weather?
If you still have a few more questions about severe weather, feel free to ask a scientist! You can find a scientist who specializes in your particular question. Click on their name to send them an email, or click on some on some of the other provided links to learn more about their specialty!
