Tuesday, June 9, 2009

two tornadoes in two days!?!

The storms just keep on coming around here!

Two tornadoes in two days? What in the world is going on around here? Can't those people at NCAR control those things? What are we paying them for anyway? Becky and the rest of our NCAR friends, what do you have to say for yourselves?!?!

Get more details at the Daily Camera.

8 comments:

Becky said...

Don't ask me. I'm a chemist.

obsessiveskier said...

Do you mean to tell me that you guys DON'T control the weather at NCAR/UCAR?

Becky said...

No. I just mean to tell you that I'm a chemist. I don't work in the meteorology division. :)

obsessiveskier said...

So what you're saying is that it is the meteorology division that controls the weather...?

Becky said...

... yes. yes that's it. that's exactly what I'm saying.

Speaking of controlling the weather, I met a Finnish guy at a conference a couple years ago who was involved with a group that lases the upper atmosphere (ionosphere/mesosphere) with high powered lasers that we joked were to intended to control the weather.

Also, I think your ski resorts are far more concerned about weather control with cloud-seeding practices for inducing snowfalls.

obsessiveskier said...

We'll I'm confident that our American and Canadian weather-masters will beat out those Finns when it comes to controlling the weather.

So, does Vail Resorts really seed the clouds or is that just an urban legend? Snopes.com is silent on the matter...hmmmm.

Becky said...

Certainly looks like it happens:

http://cortezjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=4985&TM=44424.44

(Sorry - I forget how to make a pretty link show up.)

This dude Larry Hjermstad has been contributing to lots of cloud-seeding in CO. Sounds like there are a number of other weather-adjustment applications to seeding, other than just improving ski conditions. But of course, it is the most important one, right? ;)

obsessiveskier said...

Of course improving snow conditions is most important! Why even ask the question?!?!?!

Seriously, that is just cool. Sounds like Larry H. is able to sell the process to local municipalities in drought-prone parts of the West, but NCAR scientists are reticent to concur with his research.