Tornado Detection, Tracking and Interception

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Tornado Detection, Tracking and Interception

B. J. Morgan

In order to obtain tornado physical parameter measurements with a mobile instrumentation station, a tornado must first be detected, then tracked and finally intercepted. The detection and tracking task would be accomplished in two phases. During Phase I, the long range phase, severe weather and tornado track information would be supplied to the mobile station via radio. Once in the area of the suspect storm, a visual search mode would commence. The mobile station would move with the storm, being vectored by updated radar data and by its own visual sightings. If and when a tornado is visually sighted by the mobile station, it would move to intercept the funnel. This period, when a tornado has been visually detected and is being tracked by the mobile station itself, is defined as Phase II, the short range detection and tracking phase. Mobile station personnel would track the funnel with a MK 51 Optical Stereoscopic Rangefinder. Constant-bearing, collision course, navigation would be employed by the mobile station during both Phase I and II. The navigation equations would be solved using a procedure patterned after a technique employed in marine navigation. (Author)