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• Storm chasing is the pursuit of imminent severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Severe Storm Laboratory (NOAA NSSL) used real time field weather spotters (or storm chasers) from the early 1970s until the mid-1980s to report turbulent weather conditions in order to compare field data to their newly commissioned Doppler radar system.NOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory: About Storm Chasing

• Fast Facts

  1. National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientist, Neil Ward (June 26, 1914-April 12, 1972), was considered to be "the father of the storm chase"StormTrack.org: Neil Ward: Storm Pioneer
  2. The NOAA NSSL weather does not currently have a job description for Storm ChaserNOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory: About Storm Chasing
  3. Whenever the NOAA NSSL does collect field data their "storm chasers" are staff members, collaborating scientists or university students.NOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory: About Storm Chasing
  4. The majority of storm chasers are amateurs who may or may not have a background in meteorology, engineering or photography.Online Storm Chasing: FAQ

• Historical Highlights

  1. Late 1940s: Storm chasing beganStormTrack.org: Neil Ward: Storm Pioneer
  2. 1964:The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) was established in Norman, OklahomaWeather.gov: Evolution of the National Weather Service
  3. 1970: The Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) became the National Oceanic & Atmospheric AdministrationWeather.gov: Evolution of the National Weather Service
  4. 1972: The Tornado Intercept Project was startedStormTrack.org: Passion for Prediction
  5. Early 1970s-mid-1980s: The NOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory used field weather spotters in conjunction with Doppler weather radarsNOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory: About Storm Chasing
  6. May 24, 1973: New information was revealed when the NOAA NSSL made observations with their new Doppler weather radar while researchers from the laboratory's Tornado Intercept Project photographed a tornado's life cycle in Union City, OklahomaNOAA.org: Celebrating 200 Years
  7. 1975: The first "hurricane hunter" Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) was launched into orbitNOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory: About Storm Chasing

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Hurricane Hunters | Meteorology | Hurricanes | Supercell Storms | Tornadoes | Weather

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