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Name: Brittany G.
Status: N/A
Age: 13
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 4/12/2004
Question:
How has tornado finding technology developed over the years?

Replies:
Dear Brittany-

Tornado detection capability has drastically improved with the operational use of the high-powered Doppler-88D radar. This radar enables meteorologists to measure wind velocities inside storms, which is the key to detecting tornadoes. The development of the weather satellite observing network has also aided in strong thunderstorm detection and movement, especially in areas not covered by Doppler radar.

Here is a link that contains a good explanation of how the Doppler radar detects tornadoes... There are some good graphics with this article also...

http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/57611.pdf

Wendell Bechtold, meteorologist
Forecaster, National Weather Service
Weather Forecast Office, St. Louis, MO

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