Tornado probe instruments

[Elliott Budd]

Ok after the respond from my last post I have another question. Anyone have experience with Vaisala instruments. I'm planing on using the AM30 and WXT520, I'm planning on multiple number of each. Both say I need to connect it to a PC. I want to connect it to a external hard drive to look at the data later. Is that possible?

Ps. Is this still a crazy idea

Elliott

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[Marcus Diaz]

Yes, still a crazy idea. May need to copy and paste the comments from the last thread to see why.

 

[Rob H]

Both say I need to connect it to a PC. I want to connect it to a external hard drive to look at the data later. Is that possible?

Even asking this question shows a fundamental lack of knowledge about computers. My initial guess is that you're biting off more than you can chew.

Ps. Is this still a crazy idea

Yes. Have you ever been close to a tornado? It's not always easy to get there. It's certainly not safe, especially if you're trying to get right in the path. At the end of the day, your data will be worthless to everyone except yourself. Even then, what would you do with the data? There isn't a "Tornado Data Visualizer" software package out there so if you're getting stuck on the external hard drive question, you're in way over your head on how to collect, store, and analyze data.

If you want to collect data, enroll at CoD or OU and get on a research team. It's OK to have dreams, but there are some major gaps in your plan that you don't seem to have considered.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Ps. Is this still a crazy idea

I have to echo the others and say yes. No data is worth your life, even for the most deserving and useful scientific endeavors. It's exceedingly obvious at this point, however, that you aren't doing real science, and are instead just trying to chuck something into a tornado for the fun of it. I don't think you're going to find much support in this community in helping you risk your life for such a trivial cause. Sorry if this seems harsh and discouraging, but it probably should. Most of us don't want to see more thrill seekers killing themselves in tornadoes.

 

[Jon Strebler]

Luckily, I don't think we have to worry about him trying to chuck anything into a tornado anytime soon. I don't even think he is old enough to get a drivers license yet. I was getting a little worried about this idea until I looked at his age in his profile.

Elliott, there's nothing wrong with dreaming big and setting goals so I don't want to discourage that, but as Rob said I think the best route for you to someday collect data is by going to a school and doing it through there.

 

[Rob H]

Can I ask where you got the idea to put a probe in a tornado? What specifically are your motivations and what drew you to this concept. That might help some of us understand how to help you better.

 

[Elliott Budd]

Can I ask where you got the idea to put a probe in a tornado? What specifically are your motivations and what drew you to this concept. That might help some of us understand how to help you better.

Ok Rob the motivation for it is to collect wind speeds close to the ground so we can build better houses in Oklahoma,etc. And yes Tim Samaras probably inspired me on the idea. I'm sorry that I worried all of you and I am planning to attend OU when I can.

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[Rob H]

If that's your goal, go to an expo or convention or something where Tim Marshall is speaking, and tell him you want to collect data to help build better houses. He'll probably give some of the same advice in this thread. Samaras didn't just build a probe and go out. He chased for years, asked people like Chuck Doswell to write letters of recommendation for him, and applied to receive grant money. He is the outlier in severe storm research that worked hard for years and years to get where he was.

 

[Joshua Nall]

just some thoughts here, but I'd suggest learn to weld first. And you don't have to have a reason other than you want to do it, if you want to do it. You say be cautious in your signature so you are on the right track if you want to stay alive. Even then you might be killed. But... you could be killed in your basement at home. There have been times in my life that everyone I knew told me to be careful and cautioned me about doing something I wanted to do... and the only person that I was really listening to at the time, telling me to go out and do what I wanted to do, was a radio talk show host that half the country hates. I say to everybody, if you have a desire to do something then make it happen. I wish I would have been told that when I was your age. But... don't be foolish, you have to keep it real. I would look into whether the type of data you want to collect would really help build better houses, etc... You have to ask lot's of questions. In the several years it takes to finance your project, learn to weld, and actually build one, maybe by then you will have figured out exactly what you want to do with it.