That level of miniaturization is a few years away. But Hunyady said that the turtles were able to provide valuable data about the electric fields around a tornado. Scientists would like to know what happens inside, since observers have reported some lightning and frequent electrical glows inside the vortex. Scientists discuss biology, safety, and statistics of lightning strikes. Poster papers on hurricanes and tornadoes summarized.
Thunderstorms generate elusive and mysterious sprites.
Preview of the 11th International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity. Each turtle contains an electric field meter, a pressure sensor in a small snorkel, a thermometer, and a clock, plus a small computer to store eight hours worth of data. Fortune was with the researchers that day and the F4 moved almost exactly between two of the turtles. To the researchers surprise, they saw the electric field dipped, and no lightning as recorded. Hunyady said that lack of electrical activity may be due to lofted debris reducing the electric field, or possibly to increased conductivity inside the tornado itself.