Reality Catches Up With Sci-Fi In Storm Drones

[Purveyor]

TULSA, OKLA. At the time it premiered, "Twister" put forth a fantastical science fiction idea: Release probes into a storm in order to figure out which tornadoes could develop into killers.

It's no longer fiction. Oklahoma State University researchers are designing and building sleek, Kevlar-reinforced unmanned aircraft — or drones — to fly directly into the nation's worst storms and send back real-time data to first responders and forecasters.

"We have all the elements in place that make this the right place for this study to occur," said Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma's secretary of science and technology. "We have the world's best natural laboratory."

--CLIP
If all goes as planned, OSU's research drones will detect the making of a tornado based on the humidity, pressure and temperature data collected while traveling through the guts of a storm — critical details that could increase lead time in severe weather forecasts.

The drones would also be equipped to finally answer meteorologists' most pressing questions.

"Why does one storm spawn a tornado and the other doesn't, and why does one tornado turn into an EF1 and another into an EF5?" asked Jamey Jacob, professor at OSU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, which is developing the technology.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57587222/reality-catches-up-with-sci-fi-in-storm-drones/

[RobertEarl]

1. Much safer than driving into them, eh?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/122818972

At link above is a rough theory of mine on Tornado development.

Like I theorize, a tornado is made of cloud. A cloud is made of water. A cloud dropping to earth in the shape of a funnel exerts a tremendous down force of directed water. Much like a waterpik works. (Thanks Thor_MN)

These drones will be able to prove or disprove the theory.