By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
The Dangerous Pursuit of Twisters
Understanding how tornadoes form remains one of nature’s most elusive mysteries, and scientists like Robin Tanamachi are on a relentless quest to uncover the secrets behind these destructive storms. Tanamachi, a research meteorologist and associate professor at Purdue University, vividly recalls her most impactful experience on 31 May 2013, observing an exceptionally large and powerful EF 3 tornado near El Reno, Oklahoma. This tornado, with wind speeds reaching 295 mph (475 km/h), tragically claimed eight lives, including those of three storm chasers. The sheer intensity of the situation, compounded by Tanamachi being seven months pregnant and experiencing contractions due to pressure changes, underscored the gravity of her work. "I realized it was very likely the tornado was killing people while I was collecting data," she recalls, highlighting the profound seriousness of her research.
Similar to the fictional meteorologists in the blockbuster film Twisters, real life scientists like Tanamachi chase tornadoes across the United States, seeking vital clues about their formation to improve forecasting and warnings. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average of 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. each year, causing extensive damage and loss of life. The strength of a tornado, measured by the destruction it causes, can result in millions, sometimes billions, of dollars in damage annually. The atmospheric conditions necessary for tornado formation include warm moist air near the ground, cooler dry air above, and wind shear, which enhances the rotating vortex within a thunderstorm, ultimately leading to a tornado.
Advancing Tornado Research Through Field Work
Despite significant advancements in meteorological science, the precise mechanisms of tornadogenesis the process by which tornadoes form remain largely a mystery. Researchers like Tanamachi and Karen Kosiba, a storm chaser and atmospheric scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, are dedicated to solving this puzzle. "Sometimes really perfect supercells will just not want to spawn a tornado for us," Tanamachi explains, illustrating the unpredictable nature of these storms. Supercells, violent thunderstorms that form rotating updrafts, are the breeding grounds for tornadoes. However, not all supercells produce tornadoes, leaving scientists to wonder what specific conditions trigger their formation.
Kosiba emphasizes the importance of field data in understanding tornadoes. Her team deploys portable weather stations close to storms, gathering data that weather models alone cannot provide. "Weather models can predict the conditions that are ideal for a tornado to form, but often have difficulty accurately anticipating when and where tornadoes will appear," she says. The synergy between modeling and observations is crucial for building a comprehensive understanding of tornado behavior. Scientists have a narrow window to collect data, typically only about 15 minutes to set up their equipment before a tornado forms. This time sensitive and costly research is essential for improving tornado forecasts and warnings, especially as climate change alters tornado patterns.
The challenges of tornado research are compounded by the rising number of amateur storm chasers, which can hinder scientific efforts. Erik Rasmussen, a meteorologist at NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory, warns that the growing presence of storm tourists could necessitate a shift to using robotic devices for data collection. "Some storms are now so congested that there is simply no way that we can do our research," he notes. Despite these obstacles, the pursuit of understanding tornadoes continues, driven by the need to protect lives and mitigate the damage caused by these powerful natural phenomena.
