National Severe Storms Laboratory

National Severe Storms Laboratory is a research facility located in Norman, Oklahoma, focused on studying severe weather events, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, and blizzards, in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service (NWS). The laboratory works closely with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) to improve weather forecasting and storm prediction. Researchers at the laboratory often participate in field experiments, such as the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) and the Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study (STEPS), in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

● Introduction

The National Severe Storms Laboratory is dedicated to understanding the dynamics of severe weather events, with a focus on tornadoes, derechos, and ice storms, in collaboration with the National Weather Service (NWS), the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The laboratory's research is informed by data from weather radar, satellites, and weather stations, and is often conducted in partnership with the University of Oklahoma, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). By studying the formation and behavior of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, researchers at the laboratory aim to improve weather forecasting and storm warning systems, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The laboratory also works closely with the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to develop more effective emergency response strategies.

● History

The National Severe Storms Laboratory was established in 1964 as a research facility of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the goal of improving the understanding and prediction of severe weather events, in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The laboratory's early research focused on the study of tornadoes and thunderstorms, using data from weather radar and weather stations, and was informed by the work of researchers such as Theodore Fujita and Alan Shapiro. In the 1970s and 1980s, the laboratory participated in several major field experiments, including the National Severe Storms Project (NSSP) and the Joint Airport Weather Studies (JAWS) project, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The laboratory has also worked closely with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to develop new technologies and strategies for severe weather research.

● Research_and_Development

The National Severe Storms Laboratory is involved in a wide range of research activities, including the study of tornadoes, thunderstorms, and blizzards, in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma, the National Weather Service (NWS), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Researchers at the laboratory use a variety of tools and techniques, including weather radar, satellites, and computer models, to study the formation and behavior of severe weather events, and often participate in field experiments such as the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) and the Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study (STEPS). The laboratory is also developing new technologies, such as phased array radar and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). By improving the understanding and prediction of severe weather events, researchers at the laboratory aim to reduce the impact of these events on communities and economies, in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

● Facilities_and_Equipment

The National Severe Storms Laboratory is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and is equipped with a range of facilities and equipment, including weather radar, satellites, and computer models, in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The laboratory's facilities include the National Weather Center (NWC), which houses the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and the University of Oklahoma's School of Meteorology, which offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in meteorology and atmospheric science. The laboratory also has access to a range of research aircraft, including the NOAA WP-3D Orion and the NASA ER-2, and often collaborates with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) on research projects.

● Organization_and_Partnerships

The National Severe Storms Laboratory is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and works closely with a range of partners, including the National Weather Service (NWS), the University of Oklahoma, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The laboratory is also a member of the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), and often collaborates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross on research projects. The laboratory's research is informed by data from a range of sources, including weather radar, satellites, and weather stations, and is often conducted in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

● Notable_Contributions

The National Severe Storms Laboratory has made a number of significant contributions to the field of severe weather research, including the development of new tornado forecasting techniques and the improvement of storm warning systems, in collaboration with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Researchers at the laboratory have also participated in several major field experiments, including the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) and the Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study (STEPS), and have worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to develop new technologies and strategies for severe weather research. The laboratory's research has been recognized with a number of awards, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator's Award and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Banner I. Miller Award, and has been published in a range of scientific journals, including the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology and the Monthly Weather Review.

Category:Research institutes