50 years ago, scientists were getting a better glimpse inside storms
Excerpt from the June 27, 1970 issue of Science News
Doppler radar allows meteorologists to take a peek at the intensity of precipitation in a storm. In this image of a 2011 tornado-producing storm in Georgia, brighter colors indicate more intense rainfall.
NOAA/NWS/Atlanta National Weather Service Forecast Office
Into the eye of a storm, Science News, June 27, 1970
Meteorologists, it has been said, too often are forced to combine inadequate observations with unsupportable assumptions…. To draw more information from the atmosphere and the hearts of storms, meteorologists are turning to a host of electronic aids. Laser beams, microwaves and sound, radio and infrared waves are all being used.
Update
Improvements to radar and satellite technologies have enhanced researchers’ abilities to forecast severe storms. Data collected from airplanes flying through hurricanes and thunderstorms have helped clarify how the storms form and provided insights into the strength and speed of storm winds (SN: 6/2/12, p. 26). In the early 2010s, the U.S. radar network, which tracks nationwide storm activity, added dual-polarized radar technology to strengthen estimates for rain or snowfall in locations across the United States. In terms of satellites, GOES-16, launched by the United States in 2016, provides images at four times better resolution than previous GOES satellites (SN Online: 9/21/17).
