Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) - or NOAA Research - provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that support our planet.
High speed cameras encased in bullet-resistant polycarbonate. LED lights 30 percent brighter than the sun. All mounted to the back of a diesel pick up truck wrapped in a metal cage. That’s the latest innovation in hail storm science from the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory .
Each year hail causes billions of dollars worth of damage to homes, vehicles, crops and infrastructure in the United States. “It’s very, very difficult to study hail,” said NSSL Researcher Sean Waugh. “It moves quickly. It breaks everything it hits. All our observations are post impact, so we really need a way to see it in freefall.” Developed by NSSL researchers, the new hail camera is part of an effort to collect detailed, real-time, pre-impact observations of hail events. Ultimately, the goal is to use the data collected by the hail camera to enhance public safety. Better hail data will lead to improved warnings, more resilient infrastructure, and deeper insights into storm behavior; all of which help communities prepare for and respond to hail storms. “The knowledge gained from this research will ultimately help meteorologists improve our warnings by giving us a better understanding of hail production in severe storms,” said Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office. “This insight could help forecasters provide more accurate predictions of hail size, helping those in the path of the storm be safe and prepared.”“This is a camera-based system that shoots 4K footage at 330 frames a second,” said Waugh. “With those two cameras, we can actually calculate the depth and size of the hail. We can track it from one frame to the next to get velocity of the hail moving from left to right, up and down, and toward the camera. We’re getting an incredible one-of-a-kind look at hail.” NOAA National Severe Storm Laboratory scientist Sean Waugh prepares the cage on the front of the NOAA observing truck to collect hail that is being studied to improve hail forecasts. Credit: NOAA/NSSL The hail camera, which is mounted on the back of a diesel pick up truck, is built for deployment during field research campaigns and includes weather-hardened housing, on-board computing power, and an array of LED lights. “The challenge with running a camera that fast is that each frame is only exposed for 75 microseconds, which means we need a lot of light in order to illuminate those objects,” said Waugh. “The LED array on the back of this truck produces about 30 percent more light than the sun on the surface of the Earth. It’s definitely not something you want to stand behind when it’s on, but it is incredible to see and the images we’re getting are fascinating.”“Recently we were able to watch almost three-inch diameter hail stones falling, watching them impact with the bed of the truck and how they shatter, or don’t,” said Waugh. “We’re actually seeing results from this system that are challenging some of the ways that we’re going to look at hail going forward.” “Innovative tools like this are bringing us closer to understanding one of nature’s most damaging phenomena,” said Waugh. “The data being collected with this system, not only this year but in the years to come, is going to drastically improve our understanding of hail and how it impacts our living environment.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NOAA technology to support aviation safety in the BahamasOceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) - or NOAA Research - provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that support our planet.
Read more »
Hail, Hail: 3 homers propel Mariners to 5-1 win vs. Padres in Vedder Cup openerThe Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Friday night in the opening game of the inaugural Vedder Cup.
Read more »
Hurricane Season 2025 Predictions: How 3 Forecasts CompareThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast on Thursday.
Read more »
Assistant Professor in Metabolism Research - Madison, Wisconsin job with The Morgridge Institute for ResearchThe Morgridge Institute for Research, in partnership with the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeks a joint tenure track assistant professor to lead a vibrant metabolism-focused research program.
Read more »
'Foolhardy at best, and deceptive and dangerous at worst': Don't believe the hype — here's why artificial general intelligence isn't what the billionaires tell you it isAlex Hanna is director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute.
Read more »
Uncrewed surface vehicles usher in new era of ocean observationOceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) - or NOAA Research - provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that support our planet.
Read more »