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Music.

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Dr. Kathryn Sullivan: On the
research front, we are working
continually

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to better understand the actual
physics, the science of

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how severe storms become
tornadic; what conditions make
that happen.

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Another part of the problem of
course is to be alert and
aware, and tracking

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these things and able to
monitor them and generate the
forecast and warnings.

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For that we are working very
closely with our partners at
NASA. We've got an important
new

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satellite asset called GOES-R.
This satellite will sit about
22.000

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miles above the Earth. It will
be able to take a picture of
the entire face of the Earth

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at once, see the entire country
in a single view.

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When you have a severe storm
mass develop, a big convective
lump,

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one of the really important
things to do is monitor the top
of that, where you

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can really see the symptoms,
see the bubbles literally of
the boiling thunder storm

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masses in the atmosphere.
Geostationary satellites are
ideal for that. They can

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watch the entire country at
once. When a big massive
convective activity gets

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developed, it can zoom in and
scan that more rapidly.

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Tim Samaras: Having GOES
satellite visible imagery at
least for myself operationally

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in the field is very important.
In fact I use it exclusively

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trying to find thunderstorm
initiation. Because boiling

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seen from space is the best
sign of instability. So GOES

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satellite gives us a heads up
even before radar sees it. Dr.
Kathryn Sullivan: Very

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importantly today's satellite
that does that, takes about 30
minutes to

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take one of those complete
pictures. Our new satellite,
GOES-R, will be able to take

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one of those pictures in five
minutes. For forecasters on the
professional desks,

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that will be tremendously
valuable, helping them track
where are they moving,

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how fast are they moving, which
ones do I need to scan more
closely with radar

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and watch for the conditions
that tell me I should put out a
tornado watch or warning.

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Really important for queuing,
for triggering, for alerting
both

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our forecasters and the
communities that they serve.

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Unfortunately,

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it is not the case that one
outbreak is a clue for

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exactly what's happening next
in the season or in any
particular area.

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We do know we are heading
towards the heart of the season
for 2012

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even if we can't know those
specifics. So, what that really
tells all of us

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living in this country, is pay
attention, here comes the heavy
season. Get your

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plan out, dust it off, make
sure you are ready to take
timely action if you

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got severe storms in your
area. Tim Samaras: Having a
plan of action when you

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hear a tornado warning,
practice with your family, take
cover,

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know what to do, I think is the
most important thing. Dr.
Kathryn Sullivan: This very
summer

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in our central region, five of
our forecast offices are
experimenting with

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different ways of
communicating, almost more like
text message. Cut to the chase,

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tag something right away,
tornado, tornado siting on
radar,

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tornado damage potential
significant, that really
signals more abruptly to

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people. This is important, get
out of the way!

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Beeping sound.

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Beeping sound.

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No sound.