Weather Field Instruments

The more we know about tornadoes, the better prepared we can be.

Much of what we know about the effects of weather, and how to prepare for those effects, comes directly from information gathered by scientists with very specialized field instruments. When scientists take to the field, they are looking for specific information, such as ideal conditions for tornado formation or how electricity discharges in the clouds. This type of research necessitates the use of some standard field instruments.

Basic Instruments

Basic instruments that many of us have learned about in high school science classes are used to collect weather data today. They include the thermometer for measuring temperature; a barometer that measures air pressure; a rain gauge that measures precipitation; an anemometer that measures wind speed; a wind vane that measures wind direction; a hygrometer that measures humidity; and a sling psychrometer that measures wet bulb and dry bulb, from which you get temperature, dew point and relative humidity.

Mobile Radar Fleet

Mobile radars provide information on close-range weather and can be placed in position as a storm is approaching. Smart-Radars are C-band wavelength Doppler radars that are attached to the flatbed of a truck or trailer and used to measure and monitor heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. The NO-XP radars operate on a shorter wavelength and are highly sensitive. The NO-XP can detect the tiniest water droplets and snow and is primarily used for short-range weather observation.

Mobile Laboratories

Mobile laboratories are simply vehicles that have been turned into research labs and outfitted with instruments that are taken out in the field. In field coordination, one of the vehicles will act as a command center or field coordinator where data from other mobile laboratories, instruments and radars are broadcast from the digital radio network to the coordinator. The field coordinator then directs team members to ideal weather positions. Mobile balloon launching is also important for collecting data at upper levels of the atmosphere. Balloons are loaded with equipment and then launched. The mobile lab receives the global positioning satellite (GPS) data from the weather balloon both day and night in all kinds of weather.

Mobile Systems

Vehicles can mount weather instruments to the roof to take measurements close to severe weather storms and hurricanes. This equipment is called a mobile mesonet. Data collected can include temperature, wind speed, humidity and pressure and be communicated back to the command center in real time. The Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (OK-LMA) can detect all types of lightning, including those flashes within the clouds. The Totable Tornado Observatory (TOTO) was a 55-gallon metal barrel that contained an array of weather instruments like an aeronometer, pressure sensors and humidity sensors to collect data during tornadoes. After 1987, however, TOTO was retired and a much smaller "turtle" was made to take its place and still provide the same data as the much larger TOTO.

References

• College of DuPage; Weather Instruments
• National Severe Storms Laboratory; Field Research Equipment