Studying tornadoes is key to improving forecasts and warnings to keep people safe. However, capturing data close to these violent forces of nature is a difficult and dangerous proposition. The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), in collaboration with the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High Impact Weather (CIWRO), is harnessing the abilities of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to safely gather critical data from the most dangerous and rapidly changing parts of the storm.
For decades, NSSL researchers have relied on a variety of ground-based and airborne instruments to probe severe storms and gather data. Mobile radars and mesonets, weather balloons, and actual scientists in the field have played essential roles in advancing tornado science.
Despite their success and effectiveness, each of these methods comes with limitations. Weather balloons rise and drift, often moving away from areas of interest. Crewed aircraft cannot safely operate near active tornadoes. Ground-based instruments, while powerful, can only observe so much from a distance.
UAS platforms fill a crucial gap. By flying uncrewed and at lower altitudes than traditional aircraft they can maneuver into hard-to-reach and potentially hazardous locations, carrying specialized sensors designed to measure temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, and more. Researchers can collect data in the crucial areas of the environment around a tornadic thunderstorm while remaining safe from harm.
Before the Storm: Capturing the Atmosphere in Transition
The minutes and hours leading up to tornado development remain a mystery in many respects. While forecasters and researchers understand the broad-scale conditions that favor tornadoes, the smaller-scale factors that determine if, when and where a storm produces a tornado are far more elusive.
This is where UAS technology offers a solution. Prior to storm initiation, uncrewed aircraft can be deployed to measure subtle variations in the lower atmosphere. For example, researchers are interested in how temperature and moisture vary near boundaries such as drylines or outflow fronts, areas where storms often form. These details are extremely difficult to capture with ground sensors or weather balloons, but UAS can fly directly into these areas of interest and collect real-time data.
By better understanding the conditions that favor tornado development, NSSL researchers hope to refine forecast models and provide forecasters with the tools and information they need to issue earlier, more precise warnings. Even just a few minutes of additional lead time can make all the difference in giving people the chance to seek shelter and stay safe.
After the Storm: Assessing Impact and Damage
Once a tornado dissipates, the research questions shift. How strong was the tornado? How wide was its path? What patterns of damage are left behind, and what do they reveal about the storm’s structure? Traditionally, damage surveys have been conducted by teams of meteorologists and engineers driving through affected areas. While this method provides valuable information, it is time-intensive and sometimes dangerous, especially when roads are blocked or debris is widespread.
UAS platforms are proving invaluable in these scenarios. Equipped with high-resolution, multi-spectral cameras, they can quickly map tornado damage from the air, capturing images that reveal the width, length, and intensity of the tornado’s path. These aerial surveys not only make the process more efficient but also more accurate, as they allow scientists to detect patterns that may not be visible from the ground or with the naked eye.
The data also support broader resilience and recovery efforts. Emergency managers can use UAS imagery to prioritize response and recovery operations. Engineers can analyze building damage to refine construction standards.
Bridging Science, Technology, and Public Safety
The integration of UAS into tornado research represents more than just a technological advance, it is a step forward in connecting science directly to public safety. Every dataset collected has the potential to improve models, sharpen forecasts, and enhance warning systems. By combining UAS observations with radar, satellite, and ground-based data, researchers can create a more complete picture of severe weather events from start to finish.
The role of UAS in tornado research is still evolving, and NSSL is committed to exploring its full potential. Future projects may involve swarms of coordinated UAS that can collect data simultaneously from multiple points around a storm. Advances in sensor technology will allow the aircraft to measure additional atmospheric properties with even greater precision. Improvements in battery life and flight endurance will extend their range and coverage.
Ultimately, the goal is simple yet profound: to save lives. Tornadoes remain among the most unpredictable and destructive natural hazards, but with each new tool and technique, scientists improve our ability to forecast and warn these dangerous storms.
