MPEX (2013)
I participated in the Mesoscale Predictability Experiment (MPEX) during the last two weeks of May 2013. I worked with a group of scientists and graduate students from NSSL and OU to launch radiosondes (weather balloons) to sample environments before and after convective initiation.
From the MPEX website:
“MPEX was motivated by the basic question of whether experimental, sub-synoptic observations could extend convective-scale predictability and otherwise enhance skill in regional numerical weather prediction over a roughly 6 to 24 hour time span.”
VORTEX2 (2010)
I participated in the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2 (VORTEX2) during May and June 2010. I was a part of the NSSL mobile mesonet team. Our team’s goal was to collect in-situ near-surface observations under potentially tornadic supercells using mobile mesonet instrumented vehicles. My particular mobile mesonet (Probe 5) was tasked with sampling the forward flank gust front just ahead of the low-level mesocyclone.
From NSSL’s VORTEX2 website:
“VORTEX2 teams are using a fleet of 10 mobile radars, and 70 other instruments all equipped with cutting-edge communication and computer technologies. Much about tornadoes remains a mystery, and researchers hope this data will help them better understand tornadoes and lead to further improvements in tornado warning skill.”