Meteorology 101
April 6th, 2012
Ever wonder what to do if a tornado is headed straight for your car? Are you curious about the difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado? Do you ever wonder how to pursue a career studying amazing weather? Never fear, esteemed professor and meteorologist Thomas Kovacs is here to answer your questions! Continuing my weather-related posts for Tornado Awareness Month, I invited professor Kovacs over to the blog for a Q&A about extreme weather. And flying cows. Of course.
Professor Thomas Kovacs teaches meteorology courses and has chased storms in Tornado Alley.
Q: April is Tornado Awareness Month, which seems both awesome and a little strange. Awesome because we get a whole month to talk about extreme weather, but strange because shouldn’t April showers bring, like, May flowers? Can you explain why April is the right month to talk about tornadoes? What’s going on, weather-wise, that makes April ideal?
A: The reason April is ideal is because of instability. Warm air is lighter than cold air of the same size like many oils are lighter than water of the same size. Try to push oil down below water and it rapidly rises to the top. When the sunlight starts to strengthen in the Spring it warms the ground which warms the air near the ground which is beneath the cold air from Winter. This is an unstable situation that the atmosphere corrects. The resulting rising warm moist air produces powerful thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes.
Q: We recently had severe weather in Southeast Michigan, including a tornado that hit the town of Dexter. When the sirens went off, I was in my car. Thankfully, the worst of the weather wasn’t close by me, but what do you recommend in a situation like that, when severe weather is imminent but no basement can be found?
A: You are very fortunate the worst of the weather was not near you. In a car is likely the worst place you can be.
Underground shelters are even better than basements. If you have access to neither, go to the lowest level of a well-built structure in an interior room (preferably a bathroom). Stay away from windows and get under something sturdy that may protect you from flying debris. If you are in a car, truck, or mobile home, get out and go to a well-built structure. If none are available, lie in a ditch with your head covered by your arms and hands. Go to http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html for more details.
Q: How many flying cows have you seen? Between jersey cows or guernsey cows, which is more susceptible to being caught in a twister?
A: The only flying cows I have seen are in a Chick-Fil-A commercial; though, I have not seen many tornadoes.
Q: Meteorology is just about the coolest science there is. For someone reading this blog who is interested in studying severe weather — or just plain regular weather — what advice would you give them?
A: Always pursue a career in what you are most passionate. I have never met a meteorologist that is unemployed or who does not love what they do for a living. The study of weather requires a good knowledge of Physics and Math. Many claim that these are difficult topics. I would claim they are easier than trying to be a teacher, accountant (try doing taxes), or any field where you deal directly with customers.
Q: What is the difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado? 
A: A funnel cloud is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm; it does not touch the ground. A tornado exists when the rotating column of air reaches the ground.
Q: If I wanted to get in my car and chase a storm tomorrow, on a scale of one to ten — one being not a bad idea at all and ten being the worst idea since going to a Star Wars convention dressed as Gandalf — where would you rank that idea?
A: The idea is worse than dressing as Gandalf at a Star Wars convention. Chasing storms is very dangerous and doing so without proper training puts your life and, potentially the lives of others, at risk.
Q: But I want to chase storms! *flails and whines* What do I do?
A: If you find chasing storms interesting then I would suggest a career in meteorology. If you don’t want to be on T.V. there are many other jobs for meteorologists. Nearly every type of business uses or could use meteorological services. Government labs such as the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also employ meteorologists. If you are interested in severe weather but do not want to pursue a college degree in meteorology you can become a trained spotter with the National Weather Service. Go to http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn for more details. You don’t actually chase storms in the Skywarn program, but you can use your interest in tornadoes to help keep your community safe.
Q: What is the best part about your job?
A: As a teacher of future teachers I have a direct impact in improving the education of young students in the sciences. I also get to study a topic in which I have a lot of interest.
BIO: Professor Kovacs has a Ph.D. in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University and currently teaches a Severe and Unusual Weather course at Eastern Michigan University. As a volunteer for the Red Cross, he recently helped set up shelters after a tornado ripped through Dexter, MI on March 15. In the past he has chased storms across the plains, though these days he prefers to watch the skies from his front porch—or a computer screen.
THANK YOU for stopping by, professor Kovacs!
And don’t forget, the contest to win Reed Timmer’s awesome book, ‘Into the Storm,’ is open for a few more days. Leave a comment to be eligible for this awesome prize!
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