Measuring Tornado Intensity Measuring the severity of a tornado is done using a variety of techniques. The intensity scale ranges from weak ratings to violent ratings. The resulting damage is considerable to severe. Because of the unpredictable aspects of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes they are often hard to forecast and predict. Meteorologists try to predict tornadic activity using Doppler Radar , which directly measures the wind speed of the tornado.
Conventional radar transmits short pulses of electromagnetic energy.
Depending on the strength of the signal returned, the intensity of the storm can be determined. The difference in time between when the signal was sent out and returned indicates the distance of the storm. Doppler radar functions in this way, yet has an added ability. Doppler radar is able to detect motion directly. The movement of precipitation toward the radar increases the frequency of reflected pulses, whereas motion away from the radar decreases the frequency.