New study taking place

A new research project is about to get started in the central and southeast US and the home base is going to be in Salina. Scientists are going to study the environment surrounding tall thunderstorms that reach into areas just below the stratosphere. Their ultimate goal is to learn more about the chemistry of the atmosphere that surround the cumulonimbus clouds (giant thunderheads) because this area of the atmosphere has a big influence on climate and patterns. Ozone, which traps large amounts of energy from the sun, gets carried to high altitudes when thunderstorms start rapidly developing.

There have been previous studies, but this one will focus more on the electrical activity, chemical makeup, and air movement at altitudes around 11 miles high in the atmosphere. Three research aircraft will be used in this project and will be based out of Salina, centrally located to the areas they will be flying (Colorado, Alabama, and Oklahoma). The plan is to fly around and through the tops of thunderstorms to collect data. Other tools, including lightning mapping and mobile radars, will be used to put together a comprehensive picture of the storms. The picture attached is the Gulfstream V that will be flying at the highest altitudes.