TORNADO LifeSaving Doppler Radar Tornadoes are natures most

TORNADO

Life-Saving Doppler Radar Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms, and they happen more often east of the Rocky Mountains than any other place on earth. In fact, there are 800 tornadoes reported in an average year in the United States. In an average year, 80 people die and 1, 500 are injured from tornadoes in the United States. Union City, Oklahoma, a small farming community near Oklahoma City, experienced a violent tornado on May 24, 1973. People died and property was damaged. But something good happened during this tornado that would help save lives and property in the future. This was the first tornado to be captured on Doppler radar. For the first time, scientists were able to measure the motion inside of a tornado. When a tornado begins to form, wind blows the raindrops in a way that makes a special pattern on a radar screen. These patterns tell meteorologists, (weather scientists), where storms are and how strong they are. The Doppler radar tests were so successful at locating storms that by 1997 there were 158 Doppler radars set up all over the country. The warning time for approaching tornadoes increased from less than 5 minutes to 13 minutes. The new radar made meteorologists more accurate at predicting tornadoes too, from 40% before Doppler to 75% with Doppler. Flash flood warning time went from 14 minutes to 54 minutes. Since the improved tornado warnings, there have been 45% fewer deaths and 40% fewer injuries every year. Doppler radar has also improved the safety of airplane travel, and improved the management of agriculture, forestry, and snow removal throughout the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOOA, considers Doppler radar one of the top ten discoveries of its 200 -year history.

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