Chasing Hail

Guest: Dr. Sean Waugh, National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientist As we’ve seen in the movies, and real life, tornadoes are some of the most destructive forces in nature, capable of leveling homes and damaging entire communities in a matter of minutes. And what about hail? It causes BILLIONS and billions of dollars in damage in the US every year. But how do we get up-close, real-time data on these violent storms in order to learn what is needed for better predictions? That’s where cutting-edge field research comes in. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the world of storm observation and mobile weather technology with Sean Waugh from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. From deploying instrumented drones and mobile mesonets to braving the extreme environments of tornadoes and hailstorms, his work is helping scientists better understand the atmospheric conditions that drive severe weather for years to come… Chapters 00:00 The Destructive Power of Tornadoes and Hail02:58 Sean Wu: A Journey into Meteorology05:57 Innovative HAIL Camera Technology08:47 Chasing Hail: The Challenges and Safety Measures11:59 Observing Hail: The Role of High-Speed Cameras14:46 Mobile Mesonets: Gathering Atmospheric Data17:59 Machine Learning and AI in Weather Prediction21:02 AI in Meteorology: Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy24:23 Hands-On Learning: Training the Next Generation of Meteorologists26:00 Tornado Research: Understanding Formation and Behavior28:05 Behind the Scenes of Twisters: A Meteorologist's Role32:20 Authenticity in Film: The Science of Twisters36:41 Passion in Meteorology: Inspiring Future Generations See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.