News & Events



10 May - 13 June 2009 - VORTEX2: Rachel Humphrey and I starting to get ready for the Verification of the Origins of Tornadoes Experiment 2 (VORTEX2) conducted in the Great Plains. We will deploy tow mobile disdrometers measuring distribution of drop sizes and fall velocity and surface observation statons (Image 1) in the path of supercell thunderstorms. Measurements will be coordinated with VORTEX2 instrumentation in particlular the mobile X-band radars (Image 2) - enabling fusion of data sources for a more complete retrieval of the near surface buoyancy field, kinematic and microphysical structure of supercell thunderstorms. This effort marks a first known attempt to collect in situ near surface measurements of particle size distributions (PDS) by a network of disdrometers owing to the considerable challenges and hazards associated data acquisition within severe storms owing to the considerable challenges and hazards associated data acquisition within severe storms. The collected observations will enable new understanding of the relationship between microphysical characteristics of severe storms and their behavior in line with several key foci within the VORTEX2 SPO.
Aricles & Interviews about VORTEX2: NSF press release, Daily Camera, Washington Post, Der Standard, The Takeaway, Deutschlandfunk


Copyright: Gino Degrandis

14 September 2008 - Hurricane Ike: CU-ATOC students and Center of Severe Weather teams intercepted hurricane Ike, deploying to the landfall point in Galveston, Texas. A CSWR-Doppler on Wheels (DOW) was deployed in eastern Galveston, 10 wind measuring platforms were distributed on the eastern Galveston seawall, the Galveston causeway, and the Texas City seawall, two mobile mesonet vehicles, each deploying a disdrometer were deployed at either ends of the Galveston causeway. The DOW collected many hours of data over the ultra-fine scale surface array. The center of the eye passed nearly exactly over the east Galveston surface array and the mobile vehilces. DOW radar data from inside the eye reveal mesovortices rotating around the eye, likely enhancing winds and damage in the areas they cross. The mesovortices likely crossed over the fine-scale surface arrays, so high resolution (50 m gating) and surface data will be compared. Crew who weathered the hurricane in Galveston were extracted safely and are on their way home. More pictures and information