Enhancing tornado damage surveys to reduce uncertainties in records

Tornadoes remain one of the most destructive natural hazards. Accurately recording tornado occurrences has been challenging, especially in areas where confirming their occurrence is challenging due to sparse populations or dense forests. A recent news and views article, led by researchers from the China Meteorological Administration Tornado Key Laboratory, Peking University, and the Foshan Tornado Research Center, summarizes methods that may reduce uncertainties in tornado records.

Professor Zhiyong Meng, corresponding author of this news and views article published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences and a researcher at Peking University’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, was motivated by the persistent challenges of recording tornadoes, particularly in regions with limited access.

“Uncertainties in tornado records, especially in sparsely populated or forested areas, have long been a concern for meteorologists and disaster response teams,” Meng explained. “Emerging technologies like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), social media trawling, and spaceborne photography offer powerful tools to improve the accuracy and efficiency of tornado damage surveys.”

This article introduces several cutting-edge approaches that are already being tested or implemented to enhance tornado record-keeping:

• Social media and tornado enthusiasts: By tapping into real-time data from platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, WeChat, Weibo, and TikTok, as well as collaborating with tornado enthusiasts, researchers have been able to quickly gather and analyze tornado-related videos and images. This method proved crucial during the devastating multi-tornado outbreak in Jiangsu Province in September 2023, where social media and reports from enthusiasts played a key role in shaping damage surveys.
• UAV technology: The use of UAVs for damage assessments is also a key focus of the article. Drones equipped with multi-lens cameras produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) models of tornado-affected areas, enabling accurate measurements of damage and tornado intensity. Since 2021, the China Meteorological Administration Tornado Key Laboratory has employed UAVs in damage surveys for 14 tornadoes, greatly enhancing the speed and precision of these assessments.
• Spaceborne photography: In remote regions, such as dense forests, spaceborne photography offers a valuable alternative for tracking tornado damage. High-resolution satellite imagery has already been used to document tornado paths and damage in places where traditional surveys might not have been feasible.

Together, these methods aim to reduce the longstanding uncertainties in tornado records that have plagued meteorologists worldwide. For example, the September 2023 Jiangsu event highlighted the potential for underreporting tornadoes in sparsely populated regions. In this case, combining social media data, radar signatures, and UAV-based surveys confirmed additional tornadoes, including two EF3-rated events.

In addition to improving tornado counts, these technologies also hold promise for refining tornado intensity estimations. UAV-based 3D models, for instance, can capture the full extent of damage, including tree snap diameters, crucial for assessing tornado strength. These advanced methods are demonstrating significant potential to improve tornado damage surveys globally, making them more accurate, comprehensive, and timely.

As tornado research evolves, Meng and her colleagues are confident that these new techniques will enhance tornado climatology and improve disaster preparedness and response, particularly in under-researched regions like Northeast China.