Tracking Tornado Damage from Space

Meteorologists Track Tornado Damage from Satellites

August 1, 2008

Meteorologists use high resolution satellite photography to analyze the path and intensity of recent tornadoes. The data obtained allows them to develop a mathematical model to identify storm damage and construct an understanding of the intensity of storms capable of causing the observed damage.

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THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE: The F Scale was developed in 1971 by Theodore Fujita to rate tornadoes and estimate their wind speed based on the damage they cause. But the original scale's limitations may have led to inconsistent ratings, including possible over-estimates of wind speeds. The new EF scale incorporates more damage indicators and degrees of damage to provide a more detailed analysis and better correlation between damage and wind speed.

TORNADO SAFETY TIPS:

  1. Move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement
  2. Stay away from windows
  3. Get out of automobiles; don't try to outrun a tornado
  4. Abandon your mobile home; mobile homes offer little protection from tornadoes
  5. An underpass is not safe: debris can fly underneath it and be deadly. Instead, head for a ditch

The American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

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More information on this story

On The Web: ASTER: Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer

To Go Inside This Science:
Dr. Gary Jedlovec, Meteorologist
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsvile, AL
256-961-7966
gary.jedlovec@nasa.gov

American Geophysical Union
Washington, DC 20009-1277
1-800-966-2481

American Meteorological Society
Boston, MA 02108-3693
617-227-2425

AGU is a worldwide scientific community that advances, through unselfish cooperation in research, the understanding of Earth and space for the benefit of humanity.