| NASA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

Tornado in Central Oklahoma

Image Caption

One of several tornadoes observed by NOAA's VORTEX-99 team on May 3, 1999, in central Oklahoma.

Note the tube-like condensation funnel, attached to the rotating cloud base, surrounded by a translucent dust cloud.

Source: NOAA, Wikimedia Commons

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MC3E Ideal Conditions

Diagram of ideal conditions for the MC3E campaign.

Image Caption

The MC3E ideal scenario will capture the life cycle of a storm system.

Centered at the SGP Central Facility, research aircraft will fly above and within the clouds while radar systems scan through the storm from multiple locations. At the same time, additional ground-based instruments will measure surface precipitation and wind speed.

Source: ARM Climate Research Facility