• Storm chaser

  Adam Frederick channeled his love of storms into a winning undergraduate research project.
  

  On May 30, 1998, a massive thunderstorm rolled through Ames. Winds were rotating rapidly. There was an echo on Doppler Radar and a hook was forming -- all significant signs that tornadic activity was eminent.
  
  The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings. People throughout the city hunkered down in their basements.
  
  Only no tornadoes appeared.
  
  A year later the same conditions existed in Oklahoma City.
  
  "There was a massive tornadic output in Oklahoma City," said Adam Frederick, a senior meteorology major. "No one knew for sure why we didn't have tornadoes in Ames, but there was a massive outbreak in Oklahoma. The classic radar signatures were apparent in both locations. The question was why?"
  
  Frederick, along with his faculty advisor, William Gallus, assistant professor of geology and atmospheric sciences, may have found out why.
  
  The senior was looking for a senior thesis subject when he saw a question posed on an e-mail exchange asking why, given almost identical conditions, tornadoes form sometimes and not others. The key, Frederick and Gallus say, may be because of temperature effects on Rear Flank Downdraft (RFD).
  
  RFD is a prominent feature of tornadic supercells. It develops on the backside of a supercell and as it approaches the surface, the drier air erodes a portion of the updraft.
  
  The main difference between Oklahoma City and Ames is a difference in temperature. Frederick's study indicates that tornadoes are more possible if the difference between the surface temperature and the temperature in the thunderstorm is no more than four degrees colder. If the temperature difference is greater, then the storm system spawns weaker or no tornadic activity.
  
  "No one had looked into or researched the temperature change in the RFD," Frederick said. "The RFD was extremely warm in Oklahoma City and significantly colder in Ames."
  
  Additional research and data with other storm systems seems to bear out the research.
  
  Frederick hopes that by exploring the temperature change in the RFD further, lives can be saved with this method by increasing advanced warning time.
  
  "This method could help reduce false tornado warnings and aid in the prediction of intense tornadoes," he said. "That's our ultimate goal."
  
  The student and teacher presented their findings at the Central Iowa and National Weather Association Severe Storms and Doppler Radar conference in late March in Des Moines where they received positive feedback and encouragement to continue with their research from the more than 300 meteorologists in attendance.
  
  The senior also received additional kudos after he competed in the first annual LAS Undergraduate Research/Scholarship Poster Competition, taking home first place for his research.
  
  Not bad for someone who at first didn't know if he wanted to conduct research at all.
  
  "I thought it was time I did something productive while storm chasing," Frederick said. "Finding a good topic is important. Research isn't as boring as it sounds."
  
  Storm chasing isn't boring either. Since his freshman year in college, Frederick has chased after tornadoes throughout the Midwest. He says he first wanted to go out in high school, but his parents said no -- at least until he could find an experienced storm chaser to go with. He hooked up with such an individual in Des Moines and he estimates he has seen over 30 tornadoes in four states over the past four years.
  
  He has created and maintained a web site (www.severewx.com), which contains numerous photos of his storm chasing experiences. And yes he has seen the movie "Twister" ("I think I saw it eight times with friends in the theater because they all wanted to see it with me since I chase storms," he said), but he says he doesn't take the risks that the main characters in the film do.
  
  Instead he chases storms with one purpose in mind.
  
  "I knew I was going to be on TV as a meteorologist," said Frederick, who has been offered just such a job at a Mason City station after he graduates in May. "I want to be able to relate to the viewer who is sitting at home watching to see what they should do in the event of a tornado. Since I have gone through tornadoes I can better explain to them what to expect and what to do."

Around LAS
October 16-22, 2000