(Click for higher-res)
The picture and video sorting and processing is coming along nicely. Today, I saw a blurb for an episode of the "Storm Chasers" TV show on tonight (May 29 2008)on the Science Channel. It's about the TIV, the Tornado Intercept Vehicle.
I got to see the TIV up close--- even to go inside it--- during my recent storm chase. In a moment, I'll link you to my photos and a short video I put together. But to provide context, here's the Science Channel's blurb on the subject:
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The Great Plains encompass 700,000 square miles of flatland, which is why the region is also known as "Tornado Alley." Each spring, changing weather patterns create a recipe for catastrophe. Colliding air masses crash into each other with devastating force, producing deadly twisters that ravage human life and property.
Every year, a motley collection of scientists, enthusiasts and eccentrics brace themselves for another season of storm chasing. Their goal is to spot one of Mother Nature's deadliest and most violent creations: the tornado. But for our team, seeing a tornado is not enough ... The team hopes to achieve the impossible and actually go INSIDE one of these storms!
Research meteorologist Josh Wurman has teamed up with extreme filmmaker Sean Casey to form an amazing partnership. They both share the goal of intercepting a tornado, but for entirely different reasons. Josh needs an individual who can carry his scientific instruments into the vortex of a tornado, and Sean needs someone who can direct him into the correct position to capture incredible IMAX footage. Filming from the turret of his custom-built Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV), Sean puts his life on the line as he endeavors to get the most elusive tornado footage ever shot. He and his battle-hardened team will risk everything as they drive the 14,000-pound armored TIV straight into the heart of a deadly twister. As the leader of the team, Josh guides the TIV and the mobile scout vehicle toward "intercept" from his captain's chair in his mobile command post -- the Doppler On Wheels (DOW) truck. Josh must make critical split-second decisions from information he gathers from his Doppler radar as the safety of the entire team rests on his shoulders.
So strap yourself into that armchair and join the chase with the Storm Chasers' crew starting Thursday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT!
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OK, it's me again, one of the "motley collection of scientists, enthusiasts and eccentrics," I guess. Hmmmm. ;-)
Here are two versions of a short video I put together about my personal TIV encounter:
Click for video (Silverlight; higher-quality; recommended)
Click for video (standard Youtube; lower resolution)
Photo (stills) album:
Click for pix
Next up, photos of the DOW (doppler on wheels), and then, the actual chase footage!
I had two thoughts when I saw that thing:
ReplyDelete1. I wonder what kind of struggle it took to get that thing certified as road-worthy; and,
2. At 7 tons, I wonder how many gallons to the mile that thing uses. It must cost a fortune to drive it around all day.
Getting that puppy up to speed has to eat gas like an ocean liner, I agree; and stopping it must shed brake lining like a landing 747.
ReplyDeleteAll that mechanical strength, and yet the thing leaks like a seive; hence the gooped-on caulking and glazing putty at every seam.
Maybe the highway safety inspectors were simply too afraid NOT to certify the thing. 8-)
Looks like they've developed a New! Improved! TIV:
ReplyDeletehttp://gizmodo.com/5023241/armored-tornado-interceptors-are-probably-driven-by-batman-mad-max
Frank
Aha--- that's TIV2, a lighter, more maneuverable version. The original one pretty much had to stick to roads. It was so heavy, it'd bog down easily.
ReplyDeletePart of the idea with TIV 2 is to reduce weight and add another axle so the remaining weight would be distributed over more wheels, making the vehicle less likely to sink into the ground.
Very cool to see it out and about. Thanks for the link!