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News Release 09-061
Largest Attempt in History to Understand Tornadoes Slated to Begin
Nationwide tornado experiment underway in May
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![Photo of a tornado.](/news/mmg/media/images/tornado1_f.jpg)
Atmospheric scientists soon will conduct the most ambitious tornado field project in history.
Credit: NOAA
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Genesis and evolution of a rain-wrapped tornado observed west of La Grange, Wyoming. Tornado initially touched-down 11 km west of the camera, but ultimately advanced within 2 km that location. Damage surveys indicate a path length of 12 km and peak intensity rating of EF2. This storm was the subject of coordinated observations by multiple teams in conjunction with the NSF-supported VORTEX2 project on the afternoon of 5 June 2009.
Credit: Rachel Ducharme, a student at Lyndon State College (LSC) and member of the LSC-NCAR (National Center of Atmospheric Research) photogrammetry team
![Photo of the 1973 Union City, Okla., tornado, first tornado captured by Doppler radar.](/news/mmg/media/images/tornado2_f1.jpg)
The 1973 Union City, Oklahoma tornado, shown here, was the first tornado captured by the National Severe Storms Laboratory Doppler radar and chase personnel. This tornado is in its early stage of formation.
Credit: NOAA
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![Photo of Doppler-on-Wheels, which is used to study tornadoes.](/news/mmg/media/images/tornado3_f1.jpg)
Today scientists use such instruments as the Doppler-on-Wheels to study tornadoes.
Credit: Josh Wurman, CSWR
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