Learning Storm Dynamics with a Virtual Thunderstorm
The virtual supercell thunderstorm, scaled to match those commonly observed, can be viewed in a highly immersive CAVETM-like environment (a projection-based virtual reality environment) or on a desktop PC. The virtual storm represents an instant in time during the mature, roughly steady-state stage of a tornadic supercell, and includes such visually realistic features as a wall cloud, tornado, tail cloud, comma-shaped rain region, anvil cloud, mammatus, rear-flank downdraft clear slot, and shelf cloud. Audio representing the roar of the tornado, thunder, rain of varying intensity, and hail has been included.