I continue to be fascinated by the great differences between the five elements of horse types and temperaments. Each type and temperament has needs and desires completely different, and I learn more about each, the more I know.Here I offer a case study of a Shao Yang (fire / wood) jumper mare named Samantha want how you said the man, Stephanie Yeh. Although the temperament Shao Yang is usually fire, is discussed in a Shao Yang, firepower in the direction of competition and a “no-nonsense ” attitude of the consideration of wood. I find it fascinating that while my mare fire, Cherry, loving care and attention, Samantha does not like this kind of attention and is ” around the job.” Enjoy Samantha: I ‘m All About Jobi recently took my mare mustang, Samantha, a show hunter / jumper, and found to show that Yang Shao his personality was like a beacon. Shao Yang personality is a combination fire / wood, and Samantha, the combination results in an attitude of, was nervous “I ‘m about to do the job. ” Samantha, as we have the first show, is typical for his personality. They invaded every jump of at least two feet in our warm-up, and was a little fast. Wellwhen the show started its competition kicks and it was ready to go.The interesting thing happens when we entered the arena to go directly to our hunters first course. Samantha jumped into a fast gallop for the circle of courtesy, which is not surprising as it moves rapidly into the rule. My coach yelled, “Slow down! ” In the margin, a very small effect. But when Samantha saw the first jump, the pace slowed and was well aware. In fact, I could hear how it in my head, counting the steps until the jump: It has continued to grow at all in a jump during “Four, three, two, one, jump ” . The result is that by the end of the day Samantha, a small pony mare 14.1 hands had struck a number of great hunters of fantasy. She has received two second places on the fences in a class of eight . Their slow and deliberate competition with their usual fast pace in the ring hunter. She wanted more than they wanted to win driving too fast. The funny thing is that I miscounted the number of steps, some jumps, while Samantha counted correctly. Accordingly, Iwas “end ” enter two-point position on the jump, much to his displeasure. They rushed her tail when I was too late, as if recalling my error.The final expression Samantha ‘s Shao Yang personality was his reaction to people outside the show ring. They had turned a few heads with their hunting tours, and many people came by to congratulate us and Samantha animal. Samantha would have none of it. Any attempt to point to the head or Pat affection was met with evasion. It ‘s all in loving kindness or praise concerned, including me (a little pat on the neck is acceptable, but excessive love is not tolerated). To compete equally with their own standards seems that the attention or wants Samantha Most people think needs.While a horse with a dominant personality would fire a lot of care and love in a horse would be the Yang Shao opposite of true. Samantha is all about his work and attention that she wants me to work. If I don ‘t work, you are at least three days a week, she stands at the door of pasture and shouts to me. When I gograzing animals in them or just something to his taste, it turns tail and walks away. Me, she wants to be a working partner or not. The appearance of the wood of a temperament Shao Yang seems to direct the fire some of his time to work, performance and competition.
Schedule fun as part of your job search process
New to the job hunt? If so, ask an experienced hunter job on his / her job search process. More than likely, are the experienced job hunter can tell you that a process of job search is critical. You ‘s hear that you ‘ burned and tired “with your job search, if you don ‘t have some ” fun time “is provided in the job search job Hunt.A in a difficult economic climate in this economy is a job-hunting longer and requires extreme care and a healthy dose of perseverance. Competition for jobs is greater than we ‘ve ever seen and that jobs are rare. Even if and when the economy is growing, hunting for a position at the top of every house ‘s “List of frustration. ” Frustration is UnhealthyWe all know that frustration is growing unhealthy emotions. The frustration is stressful for our bodies, our minds and those who live with us. Children and spouses probably overstated in their lives, our frustrations without add another layer of stress and fear.So, what? Get hunting to take control of your job and your life outside of work. ‘s easy to get lost in the network search employment. But at the end ofLabor Day will always be there and the person most positive, confident attitude will win a life search.Enjoy jobs that mean? Enjoy life and your life. Spend a few hours each day doing something you enjoy and you re like me and just about all the other positive, you will attitude.If ‘You ‘ ve learned that it ‘s only a certain amount of time Every day, you can support and effectively in the job search. If after 7-8 hours a day, that ‘s like a full day of work and a clear path to frustration and out.It ‘ s All About the burning process takes longer for your job search? Think of your job search process. You will see that the structured job search is much more productive than using the “hit and miss ” method many people. Establishment of a predetermined schedule of events, such as fixed percentage (25%) of your time searching the Internet, as a lot of time networking with anyone and everyone that could give a job or contact. This includes participation in network meetings, conferences, social gatherings and even your child ‘s PTA meetings. Allow time to learn, or volunteers. Consider a class to improve your careerKnowledge. Or, in a non-profit where you can meet with other professionals and hope that the Board of Directors voluntarily. It ‘s amazing, when and where new opportunities are opening and it is a good way to fill gaps in your CV when you ‘ between jobs. “Fun ” should support the same percentage as for a scheduled job. If you ‘ re planning 25% of the job search on the Internet, networking and 25% to 25% on volunteering or job enrichment activities, and 25% for pure Enjoyment should be planned . What is fun? Moment of pleasure can be something outside of work and job search arena. A lot of time in the garden, playing ball with your kids or take a walk with your spouse won ‘t cost you anything, and you ‘ s be more relaxed and strengthened by it. We all know that stress and frustration of producing unhealthy body. Scheduling “Fun Time ” unhealthy relieve stress and makes the research work more bearable. Also, does wonders for stress levels of those who fight for us and we see every day to work hard to find. Moment of pleasure and positive confidence building measures. No individual can tell you that the candidates have a positive attitude and a high degree of confidence is much more likelyjobs than those who seem stressed or lack of confidence in themselves or their abilities.So produce a variety of activities for your job search and stick to it. Just be sure, some include “fun time ” and will see that the field of job search game is leveled, and perhaps only slightly tilted in towards you.
Quit Your Day Job – Make Money Online
Feel like you’re stuck in a dead end job? If you do, you’re not alone. Many people stay in jobs for which they can donate t ‘even as they have to somehow earn a living and pay their bills. Have you ever thought how it would be nice to walk away from your daily work and have the freedom you’ve always wanted? I think many people have to leave their day job at a particular point in the thinking of the time, so the question is, what do you do to make money? The answer is actually very simple.The Internet is a great tool and resource for making money. In fact, millions of people rely on Internet to help them earn money every day. They have the potential to quit your job to see if one of the techniques used to make money online can earn a master and have the patience to follow through.The several ways to make money online, there are so they seem almost overwhelming. Here you can take some time to decide what you want to go, you wantand what will work for you. Think about it. Do you have any hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? The key here is something that you like to find, because it makes it easier to put in the hours in a line business.Where you start from here? Well, if you know what you like, you can begin to shrink, what you do. Will you sell products on e-bay, perhaps a product of their own design and sell them online or for a product online? Whatever you take the time to do your research and learn what it is. It is a fact that the information you enter, the better your chances success.The best thing about starting an online business, you decide when and how much you want to work. That is, if you still work full time, you can start part time online business. You could start by a couple of hours, days per week. They are slowly beginning to find things once, Collect what you do not normally do not work so much to see results. Try to remember when you get home from your work and Don ‘t want to work more than the work that you upload, you can quit your job for good.If work in a job they like it starts Don ‘t and the feeling of having no way out, to explore, an online business. Although it may take a while to get there, it’s something you’ll be able to manage while working full time and before you know it, you’ll be replacing a regular income from your online business .
Highlights – where you can spend your time most effectively?
Understand where you can spend time most effectively requires concentration in three areas: 1 Do what you enjoy2. Focus on your strengths3. Understanding ExcellenceLet Job ‘s starting to do with what makes you happy. Quality of life in many ways, the defendant, how much (or little) you enjoy your work. While every job has aspects that can not benefit as much as the others, your overall job satisfaction should be high. Increasing your enjoyment of jobs, the more you get the most effective things you done.If in a job, you will be Don ‘t have the pleasure to work, you have two options. The first is to minimize those things you don ‘t worry. This does not mean that you no longer do so, but you are looking for positive things about the individual components that you don ‘t like it. Over time, it should be possible to reduce the number of negative and positive. This will automatically increase enjoyment.If job you are sure you will never be able to enjoy your work, it’s time to consider Option 2, a job change. This is a drastic measure and should not be careless. But studies continue to showthat people who do not go through a decision of the workplace, they don ‘t apply for jobs they enjoy, as almost immediately experience a better life with less stress.Second to focus on your strengths . It is important to recognize your strengths, or both (talents) and weaknesses. Some people have successfully used a matrix commonly known SWOT.The SWOT matrix is a useful technique that you know where your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks are.For your help “sell ” list only what you believe your strengths, but also includes what others think your strengths. Add resources to your advantage and the activities you do well. “Weaknesses ” are areas that you and others in areas where you would not identify so strongly. Things you can away from productive activity to be considered a weakness if they interfere with your goal. “ODDS ” are areas where you see a trend change that may affect your goal. Don ‘t forget to look at technology and demographic changes, when in this dimension. “Threats ” are considered the specific obstacles that you are currently standing. These barriers can from the cash flows for the technology sector. Looking for something that can harmAffect the way you do things such as analysis of the now. By completing the SWOT matrix zones, you can focus your attention goals.The third company to set priorities to achieve your work may be surprising, c is becoming an expert in your profession. As an expert to go beyond academics and enter your business in the real world. Keeping up with trends, competitors, market and demographic changes are key areas in which you try to expert.In You need a plan to keep on top of the field should be considered. You must learn to make and keep good objectives that are complementary to your business needs growth.This ‘s your goal and objectives of your department, a total of synchronization. Set a meeting with your manager, make sure you agree, and the goals you set are the same, or are part of the department to achieve. The goals should be the same department that the company goals.Here some good questions, clear answers to help you set priorities: – What is the purpose of this work – how I’m going success is measured -? Whatoutstanding performance look like? – What are the priorities and timelines – What resources are available – What is your budget? – How do you relate to other people to look carefully at this time of year to be a new beginning in the fall and your sanity at the same time. Finally, it can not be the time savings that prevents you from achieving everything you think you have to do is. He can do what you like and focus on your strengths.
Online jobs without investment on the Internet – Getting Started
Internet job, you can do with the current much-needed income without much investment. In most cases, would be necessary to connect a computer, Internet connection and a headset, you already do. In addition, be required to enter an online directory that all the details of the company outsourcing companies.Most offer to invest, whether home-based business or daily work, will require significant investment to get started. However, there are specific jobs online you have to spend money very small at first. Online job data entry that you will enjoy these privileges when it comes to profitable Internet business, which may be exercised by the entry qualifications home.Data is: The most important condition that the company would be looking what you should be able to write and speak English very well. You are not required, a high school diploma at home data entry business.As run as much as investment concerns, you may need for training materials or courses provided to obtain the support. There are many training centers offer certification for the practice of these jobs online. They would give you a nominal fee. After that, you would pay money toDetails of companies that outsource or act as agents for jobs related data entry. Add together the investment is so low that they spent only ten steps dollars.Next – How do I start? Identification of legitimate online Internet job for all providers online directory of confidence is the first step to start.
Enjoy a clean, productive work with the help of office cleaning business
Your workplace must meet two essential functions: they should represent your company well and should promote good posture at work and productivity. If your office is dirty and poorly maintained, not only a bad light on the organization, but it also makes it more difficult for workers in their tasks. To solve these two problems, please contact the building cleaning service to discuss the different options available for cleaning offices. When you call a cleaning company to keep your job, you don ‘t send a positive message to all those who visited the area, and people who work there. This cleaning experts are able, with both regular cleaning and other tasks to help less frequent cleaning – what you should do, they ‘s skill, quickly to provide a service, so your job runs smoothly and looking good.Maintaining cleanliness on a daily basis at work is extremely important. If there is still work to be rubbish, dirt or odors in an office, nobody will be happy to come. These elements not only create an unpleasant environment, but also serve as a distraction, the workers, which means that workers have adifficult time doing their job. In addition to no-go customers want to do business with a company that ‘s care for the space it occupies. The good news is that experts are able to office cleaning, regular cleaning and janitorial work at any workplace, you must have passed to the address. Each office is different, so the first thing to do is determine exactly what you need to do and how often. Your cleaning staff will be able to work with you to find the best configuration for your business, your workplace so that it remains cleaner, pleasant and positive.In to offer options for regular cleaning, even the professional cleaning help your organization to coordinate the tasks of cleaning less frequently as necessary as newspapers are. Whether you use these experts of all office carpets cleaned once a year or two no monthly window cleaning, you can use your cleaning professional to help you with any job. These important tasks can not have as much as cleaning offices, bathrooms, for example, be done, but they are no less to show your support for the instrumentalYour employees and your customers. Do this kind of large tasks can help facilitate the work on a regular basis with new energy and is also at the presentation of space and the company is in the best possible light instrumental, if ‘s happening all type special event. Whatever your reason for this is a great cleaning job cleaning your office, make sure it ‘s done well, as shown to best advantage and company.Keeping clean your office space can make a big difference in her, how people make about where to work and how customers feel about the business there. To keep your place to work and watch the operation, contact a professional cleaning service. These experts will be able to help you with regular cleaning and concierge services, how to keep your toilet clean with less frequent cleaning tasks, such as carpet cleaning. Call to see a cleaning service company today, how they can help you and your business.
Make you Feel Like Summer Vacation
Remember the feeling we all experienced the first day of summer vacation? Of pure happiness, as I said, knowing that the next 3 months, all our base. My kids, 8 and 13, were in a state of total joy in recent weeks and it affected me in creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and joy around the house. It made me wonder where this “irrational exuberance ” is and why it is so contagious. Then I wondered what we as employees and managers to gain that sense of excitement in the workplace again. Is it even possible at this time of recession and after the Great “jobless recovery “? I ‘m sure the answer is yes! I asked my children what it was that they are so happy during the summer. After their initial response, “Because we can sleep each day,” some interesting ideas emerged. Specifically, they liked the possibility to things they really like and the chance to hang with the people they really like. Call me simple, but don ‘t exactly what we all want to work? Of course, as adults, we have the additional objective- Or obligation – to make money. But when you run it on their simplest form, we will work every day hoping to do what you love with people who enjoy.You we ‘re probably reading this thinking “Ken is out of his rocker! work is much more complex than that and there are many aspects of my job that I love Don ‘t, but to take the necessary “Without doubt, any job, what we call the “have TOS TOS and get ” -. Referring to the tasks to do and get the ones you have to do. Besides, nobody likes each person in the office and sometimes you are forced to deal with people that your skin crawl to work. However, I would say that we accept our current position because we spend most of their working time, we enjoy and share with the people we expected. The first day of work was like the first day of summer. We all thought, us “is the best job that I ‘ever had. I was so impressed at the interview a lot, everything seemed so nice and they really need help my skills,for the company to the next level. “The real challenge, I think spark, this is ” the first day at work “excitement after two years of salary restructuring downsizing, holidays, breaks, sales and reduced profits slump . Many of us have forgotten what it means to be proactive, since we ‘ve been forced to decrease the negative economic climate. By spending time focusing on what people need our colleagues and we are moving to respond, we will bring that spark of enthusiasm in workplace.As the employer, it is our responsibility to contact our team and to open lines of communication. Although not the more business out of the woods still know people who want a plan for the next quarter, the rest of the year in 2012. Confirm your employees for their contributions, the patience, dedication and concentration during the last 2 years . they know you know that they are now, to appreciate the work of three people and you realize how difficult it must be the only survivor of his ministry. Explain that things are improving slowly, and you hope that the bonus and matching 401k plan in 2011.Enter a model for new initiatives or product lines. Engage in conversation about their long-term goals and career goals. Above all, they ask for ideas. The worst thing many of us was lost during the decline in readiness of our society s to innovation and creative thinking. Planning a month “innovation session ” or invite people from different departments, to offer suggestions for an upcoming project. Who better about business trends, trends in payment, the customer needs and new opportunities, such as those applying to have the front? As an employee, you are responsible for your manager to ideas that will allow it to become more effective approach. All this requires a little risk taking, if you see an underlying trend in the numbers, take the time to think about after work, how your group can use to think these changes. If you notice that a particular task can be automated or simplified the process with some changes, tell your boss. If you have employees who will work you like to solve a key issue to identify, carry the idea of creating a project team to meet the challenge. The key is to find a solution and prepareexplain how this proposed change is a positive effect on the numbers. If you are someone who is a high degree of knowledge and skill could do to bring your group to take him to your manager as a potential future employees. The boss wouldn ‘t want to improve their department ‘ s effectiveness and value? Ultimately it is up to each of us on the defensive, fly-by-the-radar-screen mentality of recent years and back in place of our teams, departments and companies. Innovation, creativity, communication and cooperation will help us accelerate in the coming years and companies that use this approach, the new leaders emerge. As Apple has managed to outperform the stock price doubles and Microsoft as the largest market capitalization of all technology companies – in a recession? Innovation, collaboration and integration of new ideas. With a commitment to employee engagement, process improvement and a better customer experience, we can return to this state of ” rational exuberance,” we were all on the first day of work and in the summer vacation tips . For more career, visit www. turningpointsearch.net
GLOSSARY of Storm Chaser
amateur: A person who does something for fun or as a hobby.
core punching: Driving a car or truck into the center of a thunderstorm.
doctorate: An advanced degree given by a university to someone who, after graduating from college, spends several years or more studying a certain subject.
Doppler radar: A special type of radar that can indicate wind direction and speed.
enhanced: Made better or stronger.
funnel cloud: A spinning column of air that does not touch the ground.
gust: A short, strong burst of wind.
hydroplaning: What happens when a car or truck slides out of control because there is so much water on a road that the tires cannot grip the road.
immigrant: A person who moves to a new country to live there.
intern: A person who takes a job for little or no pay in order to learn about a career.
meteorologist: A scientist who studies weather.
spotter: A person who watches for severe weather and reports what he or she sees to meteorologists.
supercell: A thunderstorm in which warm air rises upward and rotates.
tornado warning: A statement issued by the National Weather Service that says a tornado has been seen by people or on radar, or is likely to form very soon, and telling where it will likely hit.
tornado watch: A statement issued by the National Weather Service that says a tornado might occur within the next few hours.
unstable: Likely to change quickly.
wall cloud: A cloud that drops down from a band of clouds toward the ground. A wall cloud is a good sign that a tornado might be forming.
It Takes a Special Person
One of the most diffi cult things about chasing tornadoes is actually fi nding one. It is still extremely hard to predict exactly where a tornado will strike. The area in which tornadoes might occur is huge. Even scientists with the latest equipment can spend days or weeks out in the field without fi nding one. Very few tornado chases end with the chasers being able to collect information about a powerful tornado. Both meteorologists and amateurs spend much of their time sitting in a car in bad weather, watching the sky.
It can get boring. Sometimes the chasers stay out into the evening looking for storms. They may not get home until late at night.
On one storm chase, the chasers kept going to a spot where they thought tornadoes would be occurring only
to fi nd they had gone to the wrong place. First the storm chasers drove to Kansas. Then they heard there was a tornado in Oklahoma. They drove to Oklahoma, but a tornado then happened in Kansas.
The day on which the storm chasers were doing this was April 26, 1991. Meteorologist Howard Bluestein was
leading the team of storm chasers. Finally, they spotted a really big tornado. It was ahead of them, so they followed it. They saw terrible destruction that the tornado had left behind. Telephone poles had been thrown half a mile (more than three-quarters of a kilometer). Later, they studied photos of the damage and the information their radar had recorded. They were able to fi gure out the tornado’s wind speed. They had seen the rarest and most powerful of all tornadoes—an EF5! The storm became known as the famous Red Rock Tornado. It got that name because it touched down one mile (1.6 kilometers) away from the town of Red Rock, Oklahoma.
The Red Rock Tornado
Red Rock is a small town in northern Oklahoma. Only a few hundred people live there. The powerful tornado that touched down near the town in 1991 destroyed farm houses and other buildings. It took the bark off trees and lifted pavement off roads. Fortunately, very few people were hurt. The damage could have been much worse if the tornado had touched down in an area where many more people lived.
Cars Full of Equipment
The cars that meteorologists use carry a lot of equipment. They may have devices for measuring wind speed and air pressure. They may have lightning detectors that can find lightning almost 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. Some larger vehicles carry their own radar.
Cameras are a must. So are cell phones to keep in touch with the scientists back at the research center who might be able to help them fi nd out where a tornado is likely to happen. A cell phone can also be used to call for help in case of an emergency.
Good maps are important, too. Meteorologists use GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment. GPS devices link to satellites high above the Earth’s surface. They let users know exactly where they are at all times. This helps them when they are on roads they don’t know. Or if storm chasers hear on the radio that a tornado is occurring somewhere, the GPS equipment can help them fi nd that spot.
Laptop computers or handheld devices may allow chasers to search the Internet for weather maps. Chasers
also use their radios to listen to weather reports from a special network of radio stations. This network is called NOAA Weather Radio, or NWR. It is operated by the U.S. government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How Many Storm Chasers?
About how many people are doing storm chasing today? No one knows for certain, and the answer partly depends on how you defi ne a storm chaser. The number of people, both scientists and others, who spend a large amount of time each spring looking for and observing storms may be only about a hundred. If you count students, fi lmmakers, and others who sometimes chase storms, then the number may be more than a thousand. When a very severe thunderstorm pops up in Tornado Alley during May, the number of people who will get in their cars and crowd the roads watching for a tornado may be even larger.
SKYWARN
Many people who are interested in weather and storms join a special program. It’s run by the National Weather Service (NWS), and it’s called SKYWARN. Almost 290,000 volunteers are in SKYWARN. They act as severe-weather spotters and send reports of severe weather to the NWS. Their job is to identify and describe
severe local storms.People who want to join SKYWARN sign up at a local NWS offi ce. They fi rst take a free class about severe weather. The class lasts about two hours. The volunteers learn how storms develop and how to tell if a severe storm might be coming. They are also taught how to report information, and they learn the basics
of storm safety.
So You Want to Be a Storm Chaser
If you want to be a scientist who chases storms, you will need to study meteorology. Meteorologists need at least a bachelor’s degree, and many scientists who study weather have a doctorate in meteorology or a similar branch of science.Some meteorology students get their fi rst jobs by becoming interns at places where scientists study weather. An intern works for little or no pay in order to learn more about a certain career from experts in the field.
Meteorologists who want to be storm chasers need to learn how to use the special equipment chasers take with them. They also need to learn the safety rules for storm chasing. That’s why meteorology students interested in storm chasing begin by going along on chases with their teachers.
Some amateur storm chasers act as spotters. Spotters report what they see to weather offi cials. This can help scientists who are storm chasers get to the right place at the right time. Many people who are amateur storm chasers belong to the National Association of Storm Chasers and Spotters (NASCAS).
Twister
A lot of people found out about storm chasing when the movie Twister came out in 1996. It is a fi ctional story about storm chasers. It’s an exciting movie with lots of action scenes. But most real storm chasers don’t think the movie gives a very accurate picture of storm chasing. They think it shows storm chasers doing foolish and dangerous things, like trying to drive into the path of a tornado.
Still, many storm chasers were happy to see a movie that was about them. Millions of people who saw the movie found out about storm chasing for the fi rst time. Twister made storm chasing seem important and exciting. After the movie came out, more people became interested in becoming meteorologists and doing storm chasing as their job.
Storm chasing may be a dangerous job, but a lot of people love it.
Storm Chasers on TV
A television series called Storm Chasers follows actual teams of chasers as they take to the roads of Tornado Alley in search of tornadoes. People watching the show can see some of the high-tech equipment chasers use, including Doppler radar and Sean Casey’s Tornado Intercept Vehicles. They can watch chasers driving through stormy weather on muddy roads as they try to catch and learn about powerful tornadoes. Shown on the Discovery Channel, the series began its third season in the fall of 2009.
The Thrill of the Chase
Storm chasing can be exciting. It can also be frustrating. A tornado is a moving target. When they’re out driving, storm chasers have to make quick decisions about which road to take. One mistake and they can miss the tornado. Sometimes, they know where the tornado is, but there is no road to take them there.
So why do storm chasers do what they do? The answer depends on what kind of storm chaser the person is.
Tour Guides
The storm chasers who run companies that give tours of Tornado Alley want their customers to get their money’s worth. These storm chasers take people who want to see a tornado on long drives through Tornado Alley in the springtime. The trips last for several days, and the visitors stay in motels. The people running the tours don’t guarantee that visitors will see a tornado. People on a tour are likely to see tornado damage, though, and are almost certain to see some really strong thunderstorms.
Taking Pictures
The storm chasers who are professional photographers or fi lmmakers want to get the best pictures they can. Sean Casey, who invented the Tornado Intercept Vehicle, films tornadoes for IMAX and other movie companies. IMAX produces 3-D and other wide-screen movies that make you feel as if you are right in the action.
Another well-known photographer of storms is Mike Hollingshead. Working on his own, he goes on 40 or more
chases a year, driving thousands of miles. It can be hard to make a living taking pictures of tornadoes. That’s because the chasing season is short. Most tornadoes in the United States happen in the spring. So a tornado photographer has to fi nd something else to do the rest of the year.
Storm Chasing for the Fun of It
Most storm chasers do it as a hobby. They love seeing the power of nature in action, and just about nothing is more amazing than a tornado. A lot of the fun comes from predicting where a tornado will happen. If you are a meteorologist, you might have a better chance of fi nding a tornado. That’s because meteorologists have special training and equipment that’s too expensive for almost any amateur to buy. But many storm chasers who are not scientists get very good at knowing where tornadoes will happen.
The Scientists
Many storm chasers are scientists. They chase tornadoes in order to study them. They want to be able to better predict tornadoes before they form. If people can get more warning that a tornado will strike, lives can be saved.
Meteorologist storm chasers often work in special laboratories when they’re not out driving. The laboratories get pictures of weather conditions taken from satellites. They collect weather information from a network of reporting stations all around the United States. They use powerful computers to analyze all the information they get.
Many of the scientists who are storm chasers work at the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. It is the largest meteorology school in the United States. The school is in the building in Norman, Oklahoma, that also houses the National Weather Center. At the National Weather Center, university and government scientists work together to study tornadoes and other types of storms. Tornado research is also done at the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder, Colorado.
When meteorologists try to predict a tornado, they look at many things. They get an idea of how unstable (likely to change quickly) the weather is. They study wind fl ow patterns and temperature. They use information they get from weather balloons, airplanes, satellites, radar, and weather stations. Weather balloons can give scientists information about how strong the wind is blowing high above the Earth. If radar tells the meteorologists that the air is beginning to spin within a supercell, they know that a tornado is likely.
No Forecasts Allowed
In the 1880s, a U.S. Army meteorologist named John Park Finley said that it might be possible to predict tornadoes. The U.S. government did not want tornado predictions to be made. In 1883, it said that meteorologists could not use the word tornado in any weather forecast. The government thought that using the word would make people panic. It wasn’t until almost 70 years later that the government changed its mind because the science of predicting tornadoes had gotten better. In 1952, the U.S. Weather Bureau (now called the National Weather Service) was allowed to begin making tornado forecasts.
Another thing meteorologists look for is places where cold air is colliding with warm air. If one batch of air has a lot more water in it than the other, that’s a sign that a tornado might form. Meteorologists use very powerful computers to create models of the atmosphere. These models help them understand the conditions that make tornadoes form.
When the conditions seem right for a tornado to form within the next few hours, meteorologists issue a tornado watch. When a severe storm is expected very soon or the storm is actually seen (or spotted on radar), they issue a tornado warning.
Warning Time
In 1986, the average time between a tornado warning and an actual tornado strike was about fi ve minutes. That’s not much time to get to shelter! Today, the average warning time is about 13 minutes. That’s a difference of eight minutes—enough time for many more people to take cover.
The First Tornado Forecast
The fi rst successful tornado forecast was made in 1948 by two meteorologists who were members of the U.S. Air Force. On March 20, a tornado hit Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Over the next few days, the two meteorologists studied the weather charts. On March 25, they saw that the weather looked a lot like it had on March 20. It was almost impossible that a place would be hit by two tornadoes in less than a week. But the weather looked scary. So they warned of another tornado. Three hours later, a tornado hit the air base. There was a lot of damage, but no one was hurt. One of the forecasters, Captain Robert C. Miller, later wrote that “we became instant heroes.”
In January 2008, meteorologists warned the people of Caledonia, Mississippi, 41 minutes before a tornado hit.
Students in the school took shelter. That was lucky because a tornado hit the school. A school bus landed on the roof. Many lives may have been saved by the early warning.
The death toll from tornadoes has gone down a lot. Scientists say that better warnings are the reason. Scientists who are storm chasers have had a great deal to do with that improvement.
