Horizon Season 2004 Episode 17 The Hunt for the Supertwister

In Horizon season 2004 episode 17, The Hunt for the Supertwister, viewers are taken on a journey through the world of tornado research and prediction. The episode begins by setting the stage with a devastating tornado outbreak in Oklahoma in 1999, which killed over 40 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. The disaster was a wake-up call for meteorologists and scientists, who realized that they needed to do more to understand and predict these deadly storms.

The episode then introduces viewers to some of the key players in tornado research, including Dr. Josh Wurman, a scientist who has built a fleet of vehicles equipped with Doppler radar to track tornadoes in real-time. We also meet Dr. Howie Bluestein, a pioneer in the field who has been studying tornadoes for over 30 years. Both men are passionate about their work and are determined to find better ways to predict tornadoes and save lives.

Throughout the episode, we see the researchers in action as they chase tornadoes across the Great Plains of the United States. We learn about the tools and techniques they use to measure wind speed, direction, and rotation in the atmosphere, and how they use this data to try to understand how tornadoes form and develop.

One of the most fascinating parts of the episode is when the researchers use a cutting-edge device called a "Doppler on Wheels" to track a supercell thunderstorm that has the potential to produce a tornado. This device allows them to get an incredibly detailed and accurate view of the storm, and they use the data they collect to create a 3D model of the storm's structure. This helps them to better understand how tornadoes form and what conditions are necessary for them to develop.

The episode also explores the challenges of tornado prediction. Despite all of the advances in technology and research, predicting exactly when and where a tornado will form is still a very difficult task. Tornadoes are notoriously unpredictable, and even the most experienced researchers can be caught off guard by sudden changes in a storm's behavior.

Towards the end of the episode, we see the researchers put all of their knowledge and tools to the test as they track a tornado in real-time. They are able to get incredibly close to the storm and gather data that will help them to improve their understanding of tornadoes in the future.

Overall, The Hunt for the Supertwister is a fascinating and engaging look at the world of tornado research and prediction. The episode does an excellent job of presenting complex scientific concepts in an easy-to-understand way, and the footage of the researchers chasing tornadoes is both thrilling and awe-inspiring. Anyone with an interest in weather or science will find this episode of Horizon to be a must-watch.