On 5 June 2009, an amazing dataset was obtained by the VORTEX2 team!
After a slow start to the 2009 season, the VORTEX2 team made history on 5 June 2009.
At least 5 mobile radars, including 3 DOWs, several mobile mesonets, and photogrammetry teams from several universities and laboratories observed the entire lifecycle of a strong tornado from well before genesis through dissipation. Multiple radar data sets were combined using dual-Doppler techniques to create maps of vector winds in order to study the causes of tornado genesis, intensification, and dissipation. The rapid evolution of the tornado was studied using data from Rapid-Scan radars. Data from the DOWs were combined with in situ video and wind data from the Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) to resolve three dimensional tornado wind structure and directly compare wind speeds to damage. Mobile mesonets surrounded critical parts of the storm to study thermodynamic properties influencing tornado formation and evolution.
The data from this scientifically groundbreaking tornado continue to be studied to learn more about how tornadoes form, intensify, die, cause damage, and their structure.
Wurman, J., D. Dowell, Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, E. Rasmussen, D. Burgess, L. Wicker, and H.B. Bluestein, 2012: The Second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment: VORTEX2. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93, 1147-1170, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00010.1.
Kosiba, K., J. Wurman, Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, P. Robinson, J. Marquis, 2013: Genesis of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornado on 5 June 2009 during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 1157-1181, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00056.1.
Wurman, J., K. Kosiba, and P. Robinson, 2013: In Situ, Doppler Radar, and Video Observations of the Interior Structure of a Tornado and the Wind-Damage Relationship. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 94, 835-846, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00114.1.
Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, J. Wurman, 2011: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX2. Part I: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Single-Doppler Radar Data. Monthly Weather Review, 139, 2233-2258, doi: 10.1175/2010MWR3568.1.
Markowski, P., Y. Richardson, J. Marquis, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, D. Dowell, E. Rasmussen, R. Davies-Jones, 2012: The Pretornadic Phase of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell of 5 June 2009 Intercepted by VORTEX2. Part I: Evolution of Kinematic and Surface Thermodynamic Fields. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2887-2915, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00336.1.
Markowski P., Y. Richardson, J. Marquis, R. Davies-Jones, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, E. Rasmussen, D. Dowell, 2012: The Pretornadic Phase of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell of 5 June 2009 Intercepted by VORTEX2. Part II: Intensification of Low-Level Rotation. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2916-2938, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00337.1.
Atkins, N. T., A. McGee, R. Ducharme, R. M. Wakimoto, J. Wurman, 2012: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX2. Part II: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Dual-Doppler Radar Data. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2939-2958, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00285.1.
Wakimoto, R.M., P. Stauffer, W.-C. Lee, N.T. Atkins, J. Wurman, 2012: Finescale Structure of the LaGrange, Wyoming, Tornado during VORTEX2: GBVTD and Photogrammetric Analyses. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 3397-3418, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00036.1.
Toth, M., R.J. Trapp, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, 2013: Comparison of Mobile-Radar Measurements of Tornado Intensity with Corresponding WSR-88D Measurements. Weather and Forecasting, 28, 418-426, doi: 10.1175/WAF-D-12-00019.1.
Marquis, J., Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, D. Dowell, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, and G. Romine, 2014: An Investigation of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornadic Supercell of 5 June 2009 using EnKF Assimilation of Mobile Radar and Mobile Mesonet Observations Collected during VORTEX2. Part I: Experiment Design and Verification of the EnKF Analyses. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 530-554, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-13-00007.1.
Atkins, N. T., E. M. Glidden, and T. M. Nicholson, 2014: Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 4823-4838, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-14-00125.1.
Davies-Jones, R., 2015: A Review of Supercell and Tornado Dynamics. Atmospheric Research, 158–159, 274–291, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.04.007.
Markowski, P., Y. Richardson, M. Kumjian, A. Anderson-Frey, G. Jimenez, B. Katona, A. Klees, R. Schrom, and D. Tobin, 2015: Comments on “Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms during VORTEX2”. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 4278-4281, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0126.1.
Marquis, J., Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, J. Wurman, and K. Kosiba, 2016: An Investigation of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornadic Supercell of 5 June 2009 Using EnKF Assimilation of Mobile Mesonet and Radar Observations. Part II: Mesocyclone-scale Processes Affecting Tornado Formation, Maintenance, and Decay. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 3441-3463, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0411.1.
Griffin, C., C. Weiss, A. Reinhart, J. Snyder, H. Bluestein, J. Wurman, and K. Kosiba, 2018: In Situ and Radar Observations of the Low Reflectivity Ribbon in Supercells during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 146, 307-327, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0201.1.
Frank, L., V. Galinsky, L. Orf, and J. Wurman, 2018: Dynamic Multi-scale Modes of Severe Storm Structure Detected in Mobile Doppler Radar Data by Entropy Field Decomposition. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 75, 709-730, doi:10.1175/JAS-D-17-0117.1.
Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, V. Venkatesh, and S. J. Frasier, 2013: Observations of Polarimetric Signatures in Supercells by an X-band Mobile Doppler Radar. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 3-29, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-12-00068.1.
French, M. M., H. B. Bluestein, I. PopStefanija, C. A. Baldi, and R. T. Bluth, 2013: Reexamining the Vertical Development of Tornadic Vortex Signatures in Supercells. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 4576-4601, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00315.1.
French, M. M., H.B. Bluestein, I. PopStefanija, C. A. Baldi, and R. T. Bluth, 2014: Mobile, Phased-Array, Doppler Radar Observations of Tornadoes at X Band. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 1010-1036, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-13-00101.1.
Coffer, B. E., and M. D. Parker, 2015: Impacts of Increasing Lower Tropospheric Vertical Wind Shear on Supercells during the Early Evening Transition. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 1945-1969, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-14-00328.1.
Supinie, T. A., Y. Jung, M. Xue, D. J. Stensrud, M. M. French, and H. B. Bluestein, 2016: Impact of VORTEX2 Observations on Analyses and Forecasts of the 5 June 2009 Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 429-449, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0171.1.