• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

Hurricane simulator. A tornado analysis tool?

Mike Birbeck

EF0
Joined
Dec 7, 2006
Messages
23
I was intrigued by the following BBC news item describing a mobile hurricane simulator. See link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7441481.stm

I was wondering how useful in baselining the EF scale this machine (or similar machines) have been? Would a true tornado simulator have to produce a vortex to give accurate measurement of aerodynamics and the damage to structures?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
They did not mention whether or not is produces gusts. As most of you know who have been in hurricanes, especially intense and/or intensifying hurricanes, the stabs of wind within the gusts are incredible and can do tremendous damage in a short period of time. Also, the wind alone at 120 mph is not too bad. But put a bunch of debris in that wind, launch it at homes/windows/buildings, and you have a major problem. Just think about Jim Edds video from Punta Gorda during Charley with all that debris blasting by. Winds were probably 120-130 mph with higher gusts but the loose debris made it all much worse.

It seems to me that tornadoes are so violent and concentrated that it would be hard to even come close to duplicating by machine. Interesting idea though.
 
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