[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.41,0:00:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I think all good tornado talks
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.28,0:00:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,need to start with an awesome tornado shot.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.28,0:00:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is not that tornado shot.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.38,0:00:14.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alright, that was the first tornado I ever saw,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.92,0:00:15.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was really cool,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.88,0:00:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was really scary,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.00,0:00:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the reason I'm showing it to you guys
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.28,0:00:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was because that's why I got into the field
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.78,0:00:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the first place.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.84,0:00:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, even though it's a bad photograph,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.04,0:00:24.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was really cool to be out there the first time.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.84,0:00:27.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now I'm taking real tornado footage.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.06,0:00:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fast forward a few years here.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.72,0:00:30.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a few years ago
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.03,0:00:32.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,during a field project called Vortex 2,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.19,0:00:33.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where myself and a bunch of other scientists
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.87,0:00:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were out there
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.94,0:00:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surrounding tornadoes with different types of instrumentation
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.48,0:00:40.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to figure out how tornadoes form.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.19,0:00:41.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, it's a big question
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.11,0:00:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're trying to answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.19,0:00:43.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It sounds like a basic one,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.49,0:00:45.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's something we're still trying to figure out.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.19,0:00:46.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're also still trying to figure out
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.99,0:00:49.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the winds are like near the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.08,0:00:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know what the winds are like above building level,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.50,0:00:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we really don't know what the winds are like
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.08,0:00:54.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.34,0:00:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how that relates
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.53,0:00:57.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what we're seeing above building level.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.04,0:01:00.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, most tornadoes form from what we call supercell thunderstorms,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.96,0:01:02.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and these supercell thunderstorms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.36,0:01:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are what you commonly think of as
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.92,0:01:05.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tornado-racing storms.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.55,0:01:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're big, rotating thunderstorms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.06,0:01:10.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that happen a lot in the mid section of the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.36,0:01:11.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the problem is
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.69,0:01:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even because they're rotating up above
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.77,0:01:16.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't mean they're rotating at the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.11,0:01:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we look at these storms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.48,0:01:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when we look at these pictures
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.61,0:01:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when we look at the data that we have
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.36,0:01:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they all kind of look the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.24,0:01:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's really problematic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.41,0:01:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we're trying to make tornado forecasts or tornado warnings
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.41,0:01:27.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we only want to warn on the storms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.19,0:01:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or forecast on the storms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.66,0:01:30.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are going to actually make a tornado.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.62,0:01:33.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the big critical distinguishing features
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.53,0:01:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we think between these storms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.94,0:01:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is something about the rear flank down draft.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.78,0:01:39.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, these big rotating thunderstorms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.29,0:01:42.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have this down draft that wraps around the rear edge of it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.59,0:01:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hence the rear-flanking down draft.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.36,0:01:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we think how warm that is,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.38,0:01:47.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how buoyant that air is,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.63,0:01:49.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then also how strong the updraft
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.43,0:01:50.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's wrapping into
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.64,0:01:52.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,makes a big difference on whether or not
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.44,0:01:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's going to make a tornado or not.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.12,0:01:55.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's certainly a lot more that goes into it
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.87,0:01:57.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'll tell you a little more about that in a second.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.87,0:01:59.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once you actually get a tornado,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.65,0:02:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,again, the problem that we have
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.52,0:02:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is getting measurements near the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.49,0:02:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's really hard to get measurements near the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.03,0:02:08.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because most people don't want to drive into tornadoes.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.49,0:02:09.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a few exceptions,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.83,0:02:11.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you might have seen them on TV shows.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.53,0:02:13.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But most people don't want to do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.19,0:02:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even getting instrumentation in the path of the tornado
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.53,0:02:17.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is pretty tricky, too
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.11,0:02:19.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, again, you don't want to be that close to a tornado
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.61,0:02:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because sometimes the winds around the tornado are strong, as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.63,0:02:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, getting information,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.34,0:02:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that critical location,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.86,0:02:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is key for us
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.22,0:02:28.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, again, we don't know
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.22,0:02:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if the winds that we're seeing above ground level,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.06,0:02:31.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,way above building level,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.36,0:02:32.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually map to the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.93,0:02:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they're stronger, if they're weaker,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.81,0:02:37.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or if they're about the same as what we're saying above buildings.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.56,0:02:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The way that we get at answering a lot of these questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.28,0:02:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm an observationalist, so I love to get out in the field,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.02,0:02:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I love to collect data on tornadoes,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.73,0:02:45.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we compile a lot of observations.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.49,0:02:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I work with this group who operates these mobile radars,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.19,0:02:49.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're exactly what they say they are:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.69,0:02:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're basically a radar on the back
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.33,0:02:52.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a big blue truck,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.44,0:02:54.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we drive up really close to tornadoes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.02,0:02:55.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to map out the winds, we map out the precipitation,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.100,0:02:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we map out all these different things that are going on
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.44,0:03:03.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to better understand the processes in these storms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.13,0:03:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that bottom there,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.17,0:03:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's what a tornado looks like
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.51,0:03:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're looking at it with a mobile radar
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.96,0:03:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when you're looking at it with a mobile radar real close.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.55,0:03:11.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, we do a lot of modelling,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.47,0:03:13.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we do a lot of computer models and simulations
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.56,0:03:16.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the atmosphere is governed by the laws of physics,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.36,0:03:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we can model the laws of physics
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.56,0:03:20.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see where the tornado might go,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.81,0:03:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the storm might go,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.52,0:03:24.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how strong the winds are near the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.07,0:03:25.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not actually have to go out in the field.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.94,0:03:27.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, of course, we want to have both
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.57,0:03:28.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,observations and modelling
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.99,0:03:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to move forward with the science.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.74,0:03:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, this is,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.86,0:03:33.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we showed you that video earlier
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.19,0:03:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that went real quick, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.61,0:03:36.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what it looks like when you look at it with a radar.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.69,0:03:38.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you saw it visually,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.16,0:03:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this is what I get really excited about
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.69,0:03:41.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I see now in the field
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.03,0:03:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is stuff like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.53,0:03:43.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the really exciting thing about
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.79,0:03:45.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,looking at stuff like this
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.05,0:03:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that this storm,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.72,0:03:48.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we caught it from when it didn't make a tornado
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.92,0:03:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to when it made a tornado
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.38,0:03:51.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to when it intensified
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.38,0:03:52.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to when it disappeared.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.38,0:03:54.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, this is the one of the really rare data sets
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.18,0:03:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have out there
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.14,0:03:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're able to study the entire life cycle of a tornado.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.64,0:04:00.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talked about that rear-flying down draft,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.20,0:04:02.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how we think that rear-flying down draft is important
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.11,0:04:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it tilts, there's a lot of spin in the atmosphere,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.86,0:04:07.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the problem with all this spin in the atmosphere
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.53,0:04:09.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is it needs to be oriented vertically
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.78,0:04:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that's what tornadoes are doing,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.28,0:04:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it needs to orientated vertically
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.70,0:04:13.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,near the ground.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.90,0:04:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we think this rear-flying downdraft,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.46,0:04:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we think that it just pulses,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.98,0:04:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and these pulses in this rear-flying draft,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.62,0:04:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we think are very important
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.06,0:04:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for converging that rotation
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.62,0:04:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also getting that rotation in the right place.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.48,0:04:26.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Other things that we've learned
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.21,0:04:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that we have gotten a bunch of fortuitous measurements
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.40,0:04:29.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the path of the tornadoes
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.99,0:04:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and very near the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.63,0:04:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we found out that the winds near the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.15,0:04:35.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are actually pretty comparable
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.35,0:04:38.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what we're seeing 30 to 40 meters above ground level,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.35,0:04:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so there's not a big reduction in what we're seeing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.68,0:04:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,above the surface to what we're seeing at house level.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.73,0:04:45.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that was a pretty surprising finding for us
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.48,0:04:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we kind of assumed
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.48,0:04:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the winds decreased pretty substantially near the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.94,0:04:52.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm going to end it with this real quick.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.48,0:04:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not the last tornado I ever saw,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.78,0:04:56.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I really like this image
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.58,0:04:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was taken with one of those mobile radars I was talking about.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.48,0:05:01.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a tornado, not a hurricane,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.31,0:05:02.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is what it looks like
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.83,0:05:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're really close to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.40,0:05:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I find this amazing,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.58,0:05:06.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can actually take technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.84,0:05:08.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take technology this close to these types of storms,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.98,0:05:10.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see this inner workings.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.81,0:05:13.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for those of you who look at tornado images often,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.84,0:05:15.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see there's a lot going on there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.74,0:05:17.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's rain spiraling,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.10,0:05:18.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can actually see the debris cloud
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.65,0:05:20.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,associated with this tornado,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.15,0:05:21.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I look forward to the future
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.57,0:05:22.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and future technologies
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.81,0:05:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and being able to learn a lot more about these storms
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.48,0:05:26.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the world advances
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.52,0:05:28.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you guys contribute to the science
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.06,0:05:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're able to really learn how tornadoes form.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.14,0:05:32.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you!