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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
SCIENCE
Storm-chasing project has busy second year
WICHITA — The second and final season of storm chasing for Vortex2 — the largest and most ambitious scientific tornado research project ever attempted — was almost exactly the opposite of last year.
That proved both fruitful and frustrating, officials said.
Where 2009 was so quiet the team was only able to gather data on a single tornado, this year was so busy the armada couldn't keep up with all of the twisters.
But last year's single tornado
was a behemoth — something the Vortex2 team never did catch this season.
"We only had a couple of opportunities" to document large tornadoes, said Lou Wicker, a research scientist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
In each case, he said, they were unable to catch them.
"When they're moving 50 mph, they're almost impossible to document," Wicker said. "You can't keep up with them."
Vortex2x spent six weeks in the field documenting tornadoes, wrapping up June 17.
About 100 researchers, more than 50 vehicles, about 10 mobile radars — and, for the first time, an airplane — were part of the armada.
"We encountered quite a number of smaller, short-lived tornadoes this year," said Don Burgess, a retired federal research meteorologist who works part-time with the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies in Norman, Okla.
"Last year, we only got one, but the one we got was a very good one — a significant tornado. We got all parts of our armada on it.
Every element, every part of the experiment got data.
"The ones this year were smaller, and many of them were fast-moving. It was much more difficult to get the data and get everyone on each event."
The unmanned airplane was deployed three times, collecting "really good data" on a strong thunderstorm June 10 in Colorado, Burgess said.
The plane gathered data on a strong rear-flank downdraft, which researchers think plays a key role in the development and sustainment of tornadoes.
Vortex2 researchers gathered data on at least 20 tornadoes, and as many as three of them may have been as strong as EF2 — meaning winds of at least 110 miles an hour.
But officials say it will be a while before they realize what that data contains.
"We'll be looking at this data for five to 10 years" Wicker said. "Two years from now, we're going to have a much better feel for what we're going to learn out of this."
Associated Press
What's going on today?
WEDNESDAY
July 7
The Lawrence City Band will perform its free weekly outdoor concert in the South Park Gazebo at 8 p.m. If it rains, the event will be moved to Room 130 in Murphy Hall.
Royal Crest Lanes will host dollar bowling from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Games cost $1 in addition to a $3 shoe rental charge.
Harry and the Potters will perform at the Lawrence Public Library at 7 p.m. The family friendly "Wizard Rock" band sings songs based on the Harry Potter series.
The Lawrence Arts Center will feature John Gary Brown's photographs of late 1960's Lawrence alongside Bill Snead's photographs of the Vietnam
If you would like to submit an event to be included on our weekly calendar, send us an e-mail to news@kansan.com with the subject "Calendar."
THURSDAY
July 8
Jaybowl in the Kansas Union will offer free cosmic bowling from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
The Downtown Film Festival, at Ninth and New Hampshire, will show "The Bachelor and Bobby Shaw" featuring Cary Grant at 9:15 p.m.
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
July 9
Lawrence Memorial Hospital will host a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
July 11
The Stitch N' Bitch knitting group will meet at the home of Justin and Laura Beth Myers, 1649 Pennsylvania. It is open to the public.
Applebee's will host a trivia night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Scary Larry Bike Polo is open to anyone with a bike at Veterans Park. Mallets and balls provided.
MONDAY
SATURDAY
July 10
July 12
Signs of Life Bookstore, 722 Massachusetts St., hosts an open Argentine tango practice. Beginners are encouraged to join.
The Downtown Lawrence Farmer's Market runs from 7 to 11 a.m. at Eighth and 11 Hampshire streets.
The Wild West Film Festival takes place at Liberty Hall at 7 p.m. The festival is comprised of five-minute films written, shot and edited within the last 48 hours and is open to anyone.
TUESDAY
July 13
The World's Largest Community Workout will begin at 6 p.m. at the Shenk Sports Complex at 23rd and Iowa streets.The workout includes calisthenics and a run/walk.Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.
weather
THURS
TODAY 82 69
High: 81
Low: 66
scattered T-storms
Scattered T-storms
SUN
High: 89 Low: 69 Isolated T-storm
High:84
Low:65
Partly cloudy
FRI
MON
High: 87 Low: 68 isolated T-storm
SAT
TUES
High: 88
Low: 69
Partly cloudy
High: 88
Low: 69
Scattered T-storm
index
Classifieds. ... 29
Crossword. ... 4
Horoscopes. ... 4
Opinion. ... 8
Sports. ... 25
Sudoku. ... 5
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