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Hurricanes Studied in University of Maryland Wind Tunnels
posted 07/17/09
6:02 pm
ABC 7 reporter Natasha Barrett went to the University of Maryland Friday where she stepped inside a wind tunnel that simulates hurricane winds. Students there use the tunnels to study things like climate change and its possible impact on hurricanes.
Inside the tunnel, Barrett was harnessed in with goggles and with just a thumbs up, the wind increased from 40, 60, 80 -- to 102 mph -- the wind speed equivalent to a category 2 hurricane.
The point of the simulation is to show how powerful the hurricane-force winds can be. Students at the university study the wind effects.
"It's pretty much as hands on as it can get at a university," said a student.
Hurricane season started last month and meteorologists predict nine to 14 main storms this year.
"The assumption is that it's not that strong. They really don't realize how much force there is," noted Jewel Barlow, the wind tunnel director.
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