Associated Press
06-11-06
ISU, Storm Chaser Team To Study Tornados
School Receives $1 Million Dollar Federal Grant
AMES, Iowa -- Scientists at Iowa State University and a professional storm chaser are teaming up this spring to measure the winds inside a tornado.
With a $1 million federal grant, Iowa State University aerospace engineer
Partha Sarkar is leading the project with the goal of getting information that will help design buildings that can withstand tornadoes.
Sarkar is working with Colorado-based storm chaser Tim Samaras, who has been trying to get accurate measurements of ground-level windspeeds inside tornadoes for more than a decade.
Samaras said doppler radar can get wind speed measurements in tornadoes above ground. But, he said that at ground level -- where we all live -- it's difficult to get accurate readings.
Samaras has designed probes that measure wind, barometric pressure and other details. He places the cone-shaped probes on the ground in front of tornadoes then drives away before the storm gets there.
He's a had a few close calls but has also had a few successes.
Sarkar said that if Samaras gets accurate wind measurements in a tornado, he can duplicate the winds in the university's wind tunnel and tornado simulator.
Models of buildings can then be made to test various structural elements to determine what can keep buildings from blowing apart in tornadoes.
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