Posted on 06/02/2013 5:58:19 PM PDT by Kaslin
On Friday, three storm chasers were killed in Oklahoma when a tornado they were following made an unexpected turn in their direction.
Comedian Ralphie May on Sunday dishonored their deaths by tweeting, "Sometimes God just cleans the gene pool up":
Stars of the Weather Channel's 'Storm Chasers' were killed in a tornado in Oklahoma. Sometimes God just cleans the gene pool up. — Ralphie May (@Ralphie_May) June 2, 2013
Honestly, should a comedian actually make gene pool jokes about scientists?
Chasing has been a part of Tim's life for over 25 years. Ten years ago, he developed his own tornado probes to record meteorological data inside of tornadoes. On June 24, 2003, Tim dropped a probe in the path of an F-4 tornado where it measured an astounding 100 millibar pressure drop — a record that still stands today. Tim runs the scientific field program, TWISTEX (Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, www.twistex.org). Their mission is to help understand why tornadoes form in order to increase warning times in Tornado Alley.
Last year, Tim had a successful probe deployment on the last chase of the season in Grand Island, Nebraska. This year, TWISTEX is introducing new instruments to help them meet their scientific goals, including a new probe called TOWER. This new probe features multiple anemometers to measure wind speed and direction, cans of smoke to track circulation, and a brand new 360-degree camera mount. In addition, Tim is conducting research for Boeing, testing the effects of large hail on the company's new aircraft.
His National Geographic bio reads:
As families scramble to avoid deadly tornadoes, Tim Samaras races straight toward them. He careens across the United States' notorious Tornado Alley on a mission: Predict the exact coordinates of an unborn tornado, arrive before it does, and place a weather-measurement probe directly in the twister's violent, swirling path.
"Data from the probes helps us understand tornado dynamics and how they form. With that piece of the puzzle we can make more precise forecasts and ultimately give people earlier warnings," Samaras explains. Since current warnings average a slim 13 minutes, every extra second of warning can be a lifesaver for residents facing a twister's wrath. [...]
"About five years ago, as an engineer," he noted, "I designed the next generation of probe to measure pressure drops inside tornadoes." A history-making instrument, Samaras's "turtle" probe has recorded record-breaking drops in pressure—the condition that triggers a tornado's extreme wind speeds. "This information is especially crucial, because it provides data about the lowest 10 meters of a tornado, where houses, vehicles, and people are."
Carl Young, Samaras's partner, was also killed Friday. Here's his Discovery Channel bio:
Although Carl is a native Californian, he was called east in 2000 after a spell working on Hollywood film crews. He decided to take off on a two month storm chasing adventure in the Great Plains hoping to catch a glimpse of a few tornadoes but ending up with over a dozen twister encounters. Experiencing the raw force of nature in Nebraska was unlike any pyrotechnic display on a high-tech Hollywood set! This inspiration led Carl to the study of tornado dynamics and ultimately a masters degree in atmospheric science from the University of Nevada, Reno. While attending a meteorological conference, Carl met Tim Samaras who encouraged him to collect meteorological data from inside tornadoes as the principal focus of his thesis research. Every spring since 2003, Carl has headed out with Tim, and together the team has tracked down over 125 tornadoes.
The third person killed in this tragedy was Samaras's son Paul.
Is the gene pool for species homo sapiens better off without these three men of science who gave their lives trying to learn more about tornadoes so that advanced warning systems can be created to save those in storms' paths?
I don't think so.
As you might imagine, May is taking a lot of heat for his comments. Our good friends at Twitchy have a recap.
Please also read some of Tim Samaras's final tweets.
So... you admit that the FAA has not allowed 'storm chasers' to USE these DRONES at their discretion.
Yet you continue to claim they are in 'common and unrestricted use' ?
I did? interesting...
Or maybe in your feeble little mind.
See the problem is you are late to the party.
What I did say was the tech is available and the need for these dumb asses to drive into the middle of a tornado to get to the sweet spot is not only extremely stupid its unnecessary. Being it can be done without risking life and limb and they have been doing so since 2010.
They also have been flying unmanned weather data gathering drones into Hurricanes since 2006.
See your problem is you haven't a clue about the issue and you have dredged up countless straw men believing you are actually accomplishing something.
What you've actually done is prove beyond a shadow of a doubt is that your are ignorant of the basic facts.
Fact one: Brilliant Scientist Guy starred in a series called Storm Chasers. In this series they do Brilliantly Sciencey things like actually driving right into the middle of a Tornado. (BTW the "Brilliant Sciencey" part of the previous statement would be sarcasm. If you are unsure of the definition of the term get and adult to explain it you.)
If you've watched the show its about Drama. this is why you will notice in the show its a lot of fast cuts to reaction shots of all the people in the car. This is not science, its movie making. Oh and if you don't believe me watch the video I provided all the evidence is there.
Fact two the reason real scientists don't drive into the middle of a Tornado is because Well it is dangerous. The smart ones look for ways to gather data and then actually be alive to study it after its retrieved.
But see people don't pay the big bucks to see a scientist NOT drive into a big tornado But Discovery channel and Nat Geo both pay big bucks to people who do.
Third Fact you claim that one must be close to the remote vehicles for them to navigate properly. I wonder if you are up on current events.
This is a military drone pilot...
This is a military drone.
The pilot is located in the United States. He can fly the drone just about anywhere on the planet WHILE he is in the United States.
This is one of the Mars Rovers. It is on...
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
Mars.
This is Mars Rover Mission control...
They are NOT on Mars.
I will let you do some research so you can figure out where they actually are. (Here is a hint they are another one of the planets in our solar system which is a little bit more than the 1-2 miles you claim on operator must be in to pilot a drone.) It will be fun for you and whatever adult is supervising you.
SO what does the above tell us.
It tells us that one does in fact NOT actually need to be close to an unmanned vehicle to operate it and has been so for many years.
What it does tell us is that the FAA is a bunch of wankers. (Probably related to you no doubt)
So, let us review.
I said its NOT Brilliant to drive close to a Tornado to do Brilliant Sciencey things.
You and several cohorts have went out of your way to deny reality and say its the only way.
I proved that not only is it NOT. I said that it was possible to do so with an unmanned vehicle. I was told by several on this thread that it is not possible.
I provided evidence that there is such a unmanned platform. I was told its only in development.
I proved it already has been used to enter a storm and gather data. I was told this is only a recent development.
I proved it had been done three years ago.
See a pattern here. The pattern shows that each time your side is proved wrong you shift your argument in attempt to hide the fact you are dumber than a tree stump.
Its not working...
hahahaha
Why, yes, I believe I do.
Good, because pathetic people like you aren't worth reading. You really are a loser.
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