Hot Items 2003NOAA research radars set to study Hurricane Isabel
Two mobile 5-cm Doppler radars based at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla., known as SMART-Radars (Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radars), have been deployed to North Carolina to gather data about the storm’s winds as Hurricane Isabel comes ashore Thursday. Researchers are using the radars, along with portable meteorological towers from Texas Tech University, to study the severe winds and turbulence associated with hurricanes.
The SMART-Radars are designed to study convective and mesoscale atmospheric processes to help improve forecasts of significant weather events such as flash floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. The unique radars are part of a collaborative research program involving four major weather research institutions: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University.
NSSL Research Meteorologist Lou Wicker is providing logistical support for the mission from Norman. Mike Biggerstaff from the University of Oklahoma and John Schroeder from Texas Tech University are with the radars. Funding for this mission is provided from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/smartradars
9/15/2003