Scientists develop a number of hypotheses to address to following:

• the connection between rotation in the middle-levels of a storm and the development of a tornado at the surface:
  The Weather Surveillance Radar-88 Doppler (WSR-88D) can readily detect rotation in the middle and upper altitudes of a supercell thunderstorm, and theories currently exist to explain this rotation, or mesocyclone. However, scientists still do not understand the connection between rotation in the middle altitudes of a storm and the development of a tornado at the surface. By understanding this connection, they may be able to detect the precursors of tornado formation in regions well above the ground. This information will greatly benefit operational meteorologists and reduce false alarms, since many mesocyclones potentially detected by Doppler radar do not have tornadoes associated with them.

• airflow patterns and windspeeds in the surrounding storm environment:

  Sometimes, when the atmosphere appears to support development of supercell thunderstorms, storms fail to develop at all. And, on days when conditions are marginally favorable for supercells, one or two storms become tornadic while most storms remain below severe limits. VORTEX should provide new knowledge of how supercell storms are initiated and what environmental factors cause those certain few storms to become tornadic. Operational meteorologists will benefit from this information when they attempt to predict the development, or non-development, of supercell thunderstorms.

• airflow inside tornadoes in order to understand resulting damage:

  Scientists currently know very little about airflow in tornadoes and will examine temporal variations, maximum wind speeds, and temperature, pressure, and humidity profiles. This information will be helpful in understanding damage produced by tornadoes.

A formal proposal is submitted to various funding agencies seeking financial support to carry out the research project.

Six months prior to the start of VORTEX:

Proposal is accepted and VORTEX is funded through a joint NOAA /National Science Foundation program. (Logo courtesy of the National Science Foundation.)

Planning process begins:

• What equipment is needed?
• What people and resources are needed?
• What types of meteorological data are needed?

Scientists, computer staff, and technicians continue to write software, calibrate, fabricate, and test equipment.

Special communications needs are identified and equipment procured: GPS satellite tracking equipment, two-way radios, mobile phones, etc.

Special problems are identified and solved. For example,

• Collecting accurate wind data from the mobile mesonet vehicles as they are driving.
• Transmitting data from each of the mobile mesonet vehicles to the Field Control van to give a realtime display of the storm environment.

Sample data are collected and examined for errors to ensure quality of data before project begins.

One month prior to the start of VORTEX:

Project goals and strategies are discussed with all participating project members: Scientists, volunteers, team members, computer support staff, and technicians.

Final dry run of all systems, equipment, and vehicles is performed.

Safety issues are discussed and training is given on equipment: computers, instruments, cameras, video equipment, etc.

Communications methods are established to inform all participants of each project day's status.

Chapter 3