Chasing Tornadoes Zoom In @ National Geographic Magazine

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Chasing Tornadoes

<< Back to Feature Page

Browse through images from our online-exclusive photo gallery.

Click to ZOOM IN >>

Drop and Run
Photograph by Carsten Peter

One jump ahead of the beast, Samaras hurries to drop an instrument-laden probe in the path of the Woonsocket storm. Samaras designed the 45-pound (20-kilogram) steel probes to cling to the ground as they record wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity as a tornado whips by. Such an instrument drop has been successful only five times in the past decade because a tornado's path is so unpredictable. Samaras lays claim to four of the victories.