HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Aug. 27, 2012) -‑ A team of scientists and students from The University of Alabama in Huntsville is driving south this afternoon to intercept and study Tropical Storm (or Hurricane) Isaac when it comes ashore later this week.
The team of seven graduate students in UAHuntsville's atmospheric science program and two staff scientists is deploying an advanced set of Doppler radars and other instruments to collect data on the storm as it decays while moving inland.
"We're trying to improve our ability to forecast locally severe events that sometimes spin out of these tropical storm systems," said Dr. Kevin Knupp, a professor of atmospheric science and the leader of UAH's severe weather research group.
The research group will be posting updates and information about its activities in Louisiana (or elsewhere as needed) as Isaac blows by on both its Facebook page and on Twitter.