HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew machine tells instant report 1977 Weather on the button ;� ,,
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New mach tells i nsta n t report
Storm analyses that once most intense activity. This radar scope in six levels of having to rely on the day -
took hours are now capability allows them to intensity to tell the varying to -day weather for
available instantaneously watch the formation of rates of rainfall throughout developing professional
, at Texas A &M University severe weather as it an area storm system. meteorological expertise.
with new equipment un- happens and to pass "The six intensities of Dr. Vance Moyer, one of
L veiled this week. warnings along to the light on the radar scopes the pioneers of Texas
Dr. K.C. Brundidge, public. will indicate rainfall levels A &M's weather radar
head of the Meteorology ` ` P r i o r t o t h e in increments from one- program, noted the
Department, said the modification of our system tenth of an inch to five university is one of the few
addition of peripheral all storms showed up as a inches per hour," Brun- schools with weather radar
equipment to the existing big white blob which didge went on. "As a result "and perhaps the only
weather radar system required an extremely we can quickly locate place students can get
"provides us a greatly well- trained eye to tell heavy intensity areas hands -on experience."
improved capability in anything about the where tornadoes or flash Texas A &M got its first
recording and analyzing signals," Brundidge ex- flooding might occur." radar in 1953 just in time to
severe weather." plained. "Analysis could Another added benefit is pick up the 1953 Waco
The essence of the take hours and the storm in that all of the signals can tornado as it developed,
system is that the com- question would be long be recorded on tape and but then there was no way
bination of two radar over before anything could played back through the to pass a warning. As a
wavelengths and their be told about it." radar scope to study the result the Texas Tornado
integration allows the The added integrating development of storms in a Warning Network was
meteorologists to "see" equipment takes analog classroom situation. This formed a 1 o n g wit h
into storms and locate, by information, converts it to will give actual experience methods to get people to
the lightness or darkness digital information, and t o students in the cover in the event of tor-
of the signal, the cells of provides contours on the laboratory instead of nadoes.