Original NSSL logo, 1964

Speaker Introductions

Introductions and Biographies

By Kevin Kelleher, NSSL Deputy Director

Kevin KelleherGive Away Question:

According to the latest American Medical Association statistics, lightning researchers are especially susceptible to what ailment?

** Answer **

 

Historical Overview of NSSL

INTRODUCTION FOR DR ED KESSLER

 

You may wonder why it is important to study Weather Radar. Well, Before there was Polarized Radar - for example - it was difficult to get answers to important questions like this--

"If you are caught without an umbrella when it starts to rain, will you stay drier by running to shelter or walking to a shelter?

To answer this question, Thomas Peterson and Trevor Wallis, of Asheville, N.C., both climatologists, conducted the following experiment-- They measured off a 100-meter course and waited for it to rain. They wore identical dry clothing that had been weighed before the test and wore plastic bags under their clothes to trap any water that might seep through. Peterson walked the course, while Wallis ran. Afterward, they weighed the clothes again. The result: Wallis' clothes were 40% drier – proving once and for all - its best to run to shelter. By the way – this story won "BEST EXPERIMENT" award by the Rocky Mountain News.

 

Weather Radar - Past

INTRODUCTION FOR DR DICK DOVIAK

 

Weather Radar - Present

INTRODUCTION FOR DR DUSAN ZRNIC

 

You can imagine what it was like before NSSL and NWS began improving severe weather forecasts---

For example, up in Moore, Oklahoma, tornadoes use to hit with sudden devastation, and without warning. In one case, a house was completely whisked away, leaving only the foundation and first floor. A silver-haired farm lady was seen sitting dazed, in a bathtub, the only remaining part of the house. The rescue squad rushed to her aid and found her unhurt. She was just sitting there in the tub, talking to herself.

"It was the most amazing thing ... it was the most amazing thing." she kept repeating to herself in a daze.

"What was the most amazing thing, Ma'am?" asked one of the rescuers.

"I was here visiting my daughter, taking a bath, and all I did was pull the plug and dog-gone-it if the whole house didn't suddenly drain away."

 

Forecasting Impacts: Severe Weather. 1964-2004

INTRODUCTION FOR DR CHUCK DOSWELL

 

Give Away Question:

Why is it better to buy a Thermometer in the Winter than in the Summer?

** Answer **

 

Forecasting Impacts: Severe Weather. Current and Future

INTRODUCTION FOR DR HAROLD BROOKS

 

Final Give Away Question:

Everybody knows about the Fujita Scale which measures the power of tornados. But nobody really knows what all those types of twisters can do to COWS. So here is the MOOJITA Scale...

M0 Tornado- Cows in an open field are spun around - parallel to the wind flow - and become mildly annoyed
M1 Tornado- Cows are tipped over and can't get up
M2 Tornado- Cows begin rolling with the wind
M3 Tornado- Cows tumble and bounce
M4 Tornado- Cows are AIRBORN
M5 Tornado- Cows get cameo roles in what popular movie

** Answer **

 

Storm Chasing & Basic Understanding of Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

INTRODUCTION FOR DR JOE GOLDEN

 

Storm Chasing & Basic Understanding of Thunderstorms & Tornadoes, the Recent Past

INTRODUCTION FOR DR LOU WICKER

 

We will hear how ideas how NSSL can use tools - like Polarized Radar - to make improvements in areas such as HydroMeteorology. For example, My Mom called the other night to say she had just watched a PBS Special on the danger of Flash Floods. "I didn’t understand it," she said, "It was over my head!"

 

NSSL's Future

INTRODUCTION FOR DR JEFF KIMPEL