The Great Plains is one of the United States’ most captivating places. With it’s soft ocean of green valleys, the roaring ever-changing wind gust, and the daily blanket of sunshine. However, as nice as living in the Great Plains sounds, the grand terrain is almost overcome by the dark fatal forces; the weather. The weather in the Great Plains is as predictable as playing poker blindfolded, with its deafening storms and house-relocating twisters no one could imagine such as natural force exists. As intimating as this sounds, some Great Plain folk find storm chasing a wild addicting thrill. Although storm chasing is as popular activity and considered fascinating, storm chasing is lethal and extremely unsafe due to a number of reasons.
It wasn’t in till the early 1970’s when the first storm chase was documented. However, the background on storm chasing has been around since the word “tornado” became a definition. Former storm chaser Dan Robinson has his personal definition of what “true” storm chasing is, “The term ‘chasing’ implies the careful forecasting and tracking of storms, then driving to them to make observations and take evidence.” (Robinson, 5) But does this include the facts that the past shows about storm chasing? No. He did not include the dangers, the victims losing their homes; everything they knew, and most importantly, the lives the twisters can take. More than 60% of the United States believes that storm chasing has become more of a trend than for actual science. I could not agree more. The definition of storm chasing has changed dramatically in the last decade. When reading Dan Robinson’s article Storm Highway, the definition of storm chasing came across as ‘storm observing’ or a ‘weather safari.’ At first,...
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...e 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Newspaper.
4. Morning News, Dallas, ed. "Lesson from Storm Chasers' Death." The Oklahoman [Oklahoma City] 5 June 2013, 9A ed., Opinion sec.: 1. Print. Newspaper
5. Robs, Sean M. ""Storm Chasing Is a Way of Life"" Telephone interview. 15 Jan. 2014. Interview.
6. Robinson, Dave. "Storm Chasing, Extreme Weather and St. Louis Photography by Dan Robinson." Stormhighwaycom Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. Database
7. Timmer, Reed. "Tornadapreneur." Oklahoma Voices. KGOU. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 25 Mar. 2013. Kgou.org. Kurt Gwartney, 23 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Radio
8. Tyree, James S. "TV Promo on Storm Chasing Filmed at Norman Locations."
The Oklahoman [Oklahoma City] 1 Jan. 2014: 2-3. Print. Newspaper
Once there was, as never before, a hurricane of great might and strength. As never before, there once was a hurricane of many names: storm, cyclone, tempest, typhoon, and flood. Yet it has lived on in history as the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Humanity has glorified and immortalized the hurricane. The Great Galveston Hurricane has been the subject of numerous articles, novels, plays, and poems, as well as four major nonfiction studies (Longshore). It is truly one of hurricane lore’s greatest of storms.
Tornadoes, also called twisters or cyclones, are a localized, violently destructive windstorm occurring over land, and characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but are typical in a funnel formation, where the narrow end makes contact with the earth. Most don’t reach winds over 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) or have a path wider than 250 feet (76m), and most only travel a few miles on ground before dissipating. Although, some can reach winds as high as 300 miles per hour (483 km/h) or higher, have a path that can be as wide as two miles (3.2 km) or more, and can travel for dozens of miles on the ground before dissipating.
Thunder rolled intensely outside, my aunt, mother, sister and I were sat calmly in the basement. We had been through this many times before; I mean afterall, Kansas was part of Tornado Alley. 2. My sister and I were young when this happened, her probably four or five, me about eight. 3. Before we had even started driving to my aunt’s house; since she’s the only one with a basement; my sister and I were complaining about being hungry. 4. Mom said she would get us something to eat soon, but then the sirens started blaring. 5. She called my aunt and told her we would be over in about ten minutes. 6. Me and my sister continued to complain about being hungry because, we always had to get what we wanted. 7. So my mom stopped at McDonald’s and got us some food. 8. After we were almost five minutes later than we said we would be my aunt panicked. 9. Jenny, my aunt, was calling like crazy. 10. When we finally got to her house she lectured my mom about how it wasn’t safe to have us out there like that with a tornado in the area. 11.Afterwards, we all sat on the porch and watched the storm. 12. That’s my favorite memory with my family, and it’s one I’ll never forget.
Although Greensburg was almost entirely destroyed, the storm helped to reinforce the important role that storm chasers play in the tracking and warning process of severe weather. By having well-trained, experienced people in the field, meteorologists and weather services are better able to track the exact location and characteristics of tornadic events, relaying that information to the public faster and more accurately than ever before.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), (2001). U.S. Tornado Climatology. Accessed on 9//27/2011 at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html#deadly
Hurricane Hunters fly at high altitudes of 1,000 and 10,000 feet through three parts of a hurricane: an eye, an eye wall, and spiral rain bands (Harriet Jane Caldwell, 9). Flying through enables hunters to know what is directly going on inside, preparing us for what will come. We discover the activity at the lower region of the storm, which will futher reach to surface of the Earth (Harriet Jane Caldwell, 9). Instead of placing satellites in the storm's exterior, we can place them in the interior while flying through. When flying through the eye and eye wall, the airplane releases dropsondes. These hurricane
Hurricanes, also known as cyclones or typhoons, are huge, devastating tropical storms that can be up to 600 miles wide. They have strong, forceful winds that spiral inward and upward circling around the “eye” of the storm. Inside the eye, there are clear skies and light winds, however, surrounding the eye wall there are bands of wind and rain that spread out for over hundreds or thousands of miles. Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances over warm ocean water (27°c or 80°F) and gathers heat and energy as it moves across the ocean. As evaporation from the ocean water increases its power, it changes into a tropical depression (wind speeds of less than 38 mph), then tropical storm (wind speeds of 39-73 mph) to finally a hurricane (wind speeds greater than 75mph). Hurricanes can last two weeks or more over open water and moves about 10-20 miles per hour. The safety of millions of people depends on the meteorologists and their ability to track these storms. Hurricanes may not be dangerous over open water, but are devastating when they hit land. They can cause torrential rains, high winds and storm surges as well as tornadoes, flash floods and land slides. Without warning of these hurricanes approaching, millions could die. The most effective tools meteorologists use are satellite images, radar and aircraft reconnaissance to study and warn people of approaching hurricanes.
Tornadoes are devastating atmospheric events that affect the ecology and the lives of people in their paths. Tornadoes are defined as “a violently rotating column of air, in contact with the ground, either pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath a cumuliform cloud, and often (but not always) visible as a funnel cloud” (Glossary of Meterology, 2011). The Tri-state tornado was the most deadly tornado in the United States. It stayed on the ground for a total of 219 miles through areas of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killed a total of 695 people, and an estimated $16.5 million in damages (National Weather Service, 2011). Luckily, the tornado’s path was largely rural farmland with scattered small towns between them.
Shipping companies and shipbuilders worked with insurers and mariners for safer ship designs with greater stability and more longitudinal strength. The storm proved the Great Lake straight deckers were underpowered. Many complaints were directed toward the Weather Bureau of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This resulted in an increased effort to achieve more accurate weather forecasting and faster communication of storm warnings. End of article, Bio follows ROGER MEYER is a Michigan based writer and specializes in writing articles on the outdoors and World War II. His 200 published magazine articles have appeared in over 80 publications
Since storm chasing was established back in 1960’s, Only 7 storm chasers have died during the chase and only three were actually caused by the tornado they were chasing. Even though storm chasing can be deadly, the risks storm chasers and meteorologists take are not high if handled responsibly and are justified by the lives they save.
For centuries, tornadoes have been a destructive force of nature that possesses the power to destroy cities and take people’s lives. Recently, a new epidemic of tornadoes has been ravaging America which draws the question, is global warming to blame? With up to 300 mile per hour winds and damage paths can go up to one mile wide and 50 miles long, they truly are Mother Nature’s weapon of mass destruction.
Harris, Richard. "Dust Storms Threaten Snow Packs." NPR : National Public Radio. Public Broadcasting Service, 30 May 2006. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.
Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching.
Other than the sweltering heat in the summer time in Oklahoma City, the only dilemma are tornadoes. I grew up in the middle of this “tornado alley” and eventually developed a sixth sense for detecting tornadic activity. Even in the 1980’s tornadoes were known for their violent crime wave, vandalizing neighborhoods and kidnapping children and adults. Imagine a beautiful evening in Moore, a suburb lying on the outskirts of Oklahoma City. Mom is in the kitchen and the kids are playing in the yard. In a matter of minutes, the sky turns green and large cumulonimbus clouds start to churn. A crackle of thunder sends a chill up your spine, followed by a strong odor of ozone that fills the air as Mother Nature’s fireworks illuminate the dark sky. Large golf ball sized hail sting your window and a melody of car alarms play in the streets. You panic as the lights inside your house start to flicker as the tornado touches down and it is reported as an F-5, the largest of all the tornadoes, tearing through houses with awe-inspiring velocity. The tornado engorges cars, trees, and small houses as it approaches your house. Being prepared, you descend to the storm cellar and brace yourself for the full impact of the unforgiving monster. The tornado has left its calling card on your block. A scrap of metal and glass resembling your car is found on your next door neighbor’s lawn. The houses on your block have vanished, leaving behind a scene of ultimate destruction. Families stand outside telling stories of how their child was stripped right out of their hands as the behemoth rampaged through their houses.
Tufty, Barbara; 1001 Questions Answered about Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Natural Air Disasters; Dover Publications, Incorporated, August 1987