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WeatherBrains 192: Chasing and Pressure Drop

| September 29, 2009 @ 3:16 pm | Reply

WeatherBrains Episode 192 is now online (Sep. 28, 2009). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

Dr. Tim SamarasDr. Tim Samaras is a big time tornado chaser with a web site called thunderchase (see link below). Tim holds the Guinness World Record for measuring the lowest pressure of a tornado and is the only person to collect video from inside a tornado. Tim’s fascination with tornadoes started with a movie, The Wizard of Oz. Now he spend every May and June traveling 25,000 miles after those elusive storms. And he catches more than his fair share. As an engineer, Samaras has developed a unique instrument called a “turtle” which he places in front of approaching tornadoes. One such placement caught a direct hit of an F-4 tornado near Manchester, SD, recording the largest pressure drop ever. The probe sensors measure humidity, pressure, temperature, wind speed, and direction. Tim has a passion for what he does and he’s lucky to combine his electrical engineering with his interest in tornadoes.

Dog trainer Jolanta Benal joins us to talk about dogs and thunder.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

  • Beginning of Fall
  • High pressure plunging southward bringing cooler, drier air
  • Super flash flooding in Atlanta
  • Coldest air in northern Alaska with single digits
  • 109 in Death Valley and in Arizona
  • Snow expected in northern Rockies
  • Drought lessened in Texas
  • and more!
  • Our mail bag continues to have good attention, and Kevin gives time to our writers.

    From The Weather Center:

    WeatherBrains 101: This episode of the 101 segment starts at the troposhere and works upward to identify the various layers in our atmosphere. This is part one and part two will air in the next episode.

    TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of September 28th. 1995 was a busy year for hurricanes including Hurricane Opal which posed a unique challenge for forecasters.

    Web Sites from Episode 192:

    Tim Samaras web site

    Tornado Hunter

    Picks of the Week:

    Dr. Tim Coleman – Pictures of springs in a river

    JB Elliott – No Pick so he gets the HORN!!!

    Bill Murray – liveatc.net

    Brian Peters – Viewing Glaciers from Space

    Kevin Selle – NOAA’s strategic plan input
    U. S. Drought Monitor
    Boston Big Picture

    James Spann – Plymouth State Weather Center (check out the tutorial section)

    Join James Spann, JB Elliott, Kevin Selle, Dr. Tim Coleman, Bill Murray, and Brian Peters as they come together for another fascinating netcast about the weather.

    We love to hear from you! To leave a recorded message, call 1-888-247-8627. Some calls may be used in future episodes. Also, feel free to post comments to the site and drop us an email at email at (at symbol) weatherbrains dot com.

    Category: Pre-November 2010 Posts

    About the Author ()

    James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.

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