CASA - New radar system to issue better tornado warnings

The present tornado warning system in the US, NEXRAD give false alarms at least 75% of the time. In order to develop a better system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and some university researchers are working together and have been testing a completely new high-tech system of radars that can see storm activity closer to the ground. As the Earth tends to curve away, the normal radars are ineffective and though they are large, they miss out on the ground level activity of tornadoes.

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The new system called the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) looks under the umbrella formed by Earth's spherical shape and can be installed cell phone towers and they would also scan smaller areas to maintain effectiveness. Unlike the normal radars, CASA can also communicate with each other and follow the path of the tornado and give vital information. Though this may not replace the conventional radar system, it would complement the tornado sensing system by detecting from the ground level and the conventional system would detect from up above. Warnings could be offered two hours prior to the actual disaster and give people ample time to brace up against the impending tornado. The cost estimates are yet to be done and once the system is in place, it could help save many lives.

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Via: ABCNews