Tim Shriver
EF4
Associating chasing with money making is not accurate. While some do it, it's still a minority.
Shane is right...the difference is movement. Not the minute you start moving...but....well this is all been discussed in a different thread.
Sorry, it might be different from place to place but the NWS has it like this:
Q. What is the difference between a storm spotter and a storm chaser?
A. A storm spotter is volunteer or paid county or municipal employee who is spotting as a community service. Most spotters work as part of an organized network and are in communication with their community or organization, which is in turn in communication with the NWS. Some spotters are "mobile" spotters in vehicles, but most spot from fixed, strategic locations around the community or county. The purpose of spotting is to alert community officials and the NWS and assist them in warning the public. Schools, hospitals, and other facilities are encouraged to have spotters to alert people in their care of impending severe weather.
Storm chasing involves following a developing thunderstorm to view or photograph severe weather phenomena. Chasing may be done for educational purposes or scientific research but is mostly done for personal fulfillment.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=spotterfaq
Notice that the NWS does not mention that storm chaser
do it for public safety. But then that can fall under research.
Not a big deal overall though...
Tim