Joseph G. Galway

Bio: Joseph G. Galway is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tornado & Jet (fluid). The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 13 publications receiving 567 citations.

Some Climatological Aspects of Tornado Outbreaks

Abstract: Outbreaks involving ten or more tornadoes during the period 1870–1975 have been investigated in order to ascertain their climatological aspects. The data have been divided into eras before and after establishment of organized tornado spotter networks. This study indicates that three distinct types of outbreaks (local, progressive and line) occur.

Relationship of Tornado Deaths to Severe Weather Watch Areas

Abstract: The National Severe Storm Forecast Center (NSSFC) has complied statistics on tornado occurrences for the period 1950–1973 which not only include date, time, and location, but a variety of information such as deaths, injuries, damage class, and other descriptive features on each event. This study relates tornado deaths to the severe weather watches issued by the Severe Local Storms Forecast Unit (SELS) from the inception of the Unit in March 1952 through 1973. Some 14 600 tornadoes occurred during this period, but only 497 of the total caused fatalities. The total tornado-related deaths were 2575. The percentage of the tornadoes which caused deaths within the time and space of a watch is presented by year, as is the overall correctness (56%) for the entire period. Of the total tornado deaths, the percentage within valid watch areas is shown for each year together with the overall percentage for the period (66%). Statistics were computed on two lead times. One starts with the issuance time of a wat...

The evolution of severe thunderstorm criteria within the weather service

Abstract: The evolution of criteria for nontornadic severe thunderstorms from undefined categories and general terms to the present day definition for this class of thunderstorm is presented. Major historical events in the development of the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) which directly or indirectly influenced changes in the criteria are included.

Early Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting and Research by the United States weather Bureau

Abstract: In the early nineteenth century, fragmentary weather observing networks were established in portions of the United States, primarily to constitute a climatological history The invention of the telegraph in 1833 and its availability to the public in 1845 eventually led to a nationwide observation network with the formation of a national weather service in 1870 within the Signal Service of the US Army While Lt J P Finley of the Signal Service was developing techniques for the prediction of tornadoes, others, as Prof Henry A Hazen (also of the Signal Service) and the New England Meteorological Society, were studying the thunderstorm in hope of developing predictors for the forecasting of these events The thunderstorm studies were carried over to the civilian US Weather Bureau in 1891, but interest in thunderstorm and tornado research wanted as a ban on the use of the word “tornado” in forecasts, inherited from the Signal Corps, was carried into the twentieth century The growth of the a

The public health consequences of disasters.

Abstract: Although disasters have exacted a heavy toll of death and suffering, the future seems more frightening. Good disaster management must link data collection and analysis to the decision-making process. The overall objectives of disaster management from the viewpoint of public health are: 1) needs assessments; 2) matching available resources with defined needs; 3) prevention of further adverse health effects; 4) implementation of disease-control strategies; 5) evaluation of the effectiveness of the application of these strategies; and 6) improvement in contingency planning for future disasters. The effects of sudden-onset, natural disasters on humans are quantifiable. Knowledge of the epidemiology of deaths, injuries, and illnesses is essential to determine effective responses; provide public education; establish priorities, planning, and training. In addition, the temporal patterns for the medical care required must be established so that the needs in future disasters can be anticipated. This article discusses: 1) the nature of disasters due to sudden-onset, natural events; 2) the medical and health needs associated with such events and disasters; 3) practical issues of disaster responses; and 4) the advance organization and management of disasters. The discussion also includes: 1) discussions of past problems in disaster management including non-congruence between available supplies and the actual needs of the affected population; 2) information management; 3) needs assessments; 4) public health surveillance; and 5) linking information with decision-making. This discussion is followed by an analysis of what currently is known about the health-care needs during some specific types of sudden-onset, natural disasters: 1) floods; 2) tropical cyclones; 3) tornadoes; 4) volcanic eruptions; and 5) earthquakes. The article concludes with descriptions of some specific public-health problems associated with disasters including epidemics and disposition of corpses. All natural disasters are unique in that the regions affected have different social, economic, and health backgrounds. But, many similarities exist, and knowledge about these can ensure that the health and emergency medical relief and limited resources are well-managed.

Nowcasting severe convective activity over southeast India using ground‐based microwave radiometer observations

Abstract: [1] In the present study, the feasibility of nowcasting convective activity is examined by using thermodynamic indices derived from the ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) observations located at a tropical station, Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E). There is a good comparison between thermodynamic parameters derived from MWR and colocated GPS radiosonde observations, indicating that MWR observations can be used to develop techniques for nowcasting severe convective activity. Using MWR observations, a nowcasting technique was developed with the data of 26 thunderstorm cases observed at Gadanki. The analysis showed that there are sharp changes in some thermodynamic indices, such as the K index, the humidity index, precipitable water content, the stability index, and equivalent potential temperature lapse rates, about 2–4 h before the occurrence of thunderstorm. A superepoch analysis was made to examine the composite temporal variations of the thermodynamic indices associated with the occurrence of thunderstorms. The superepoch analysis revealed that 2–4 h prior to the storm occurrence, appreciable variations in many parameters are observed, suggesting thermodynamic evolution of the boundary layer convective instability. It is further demonstrated that by monitoring these variations it is possible to predict the ensuing thunderstorm activity over the region at least 2 h in advance. The association between the temporal evolution of thermodynamic indices and convective activity has been tested for the independent case of nine thunderstorms. The present results suggest that ground-based MWR observations can be used effectively to predict the occurrence of thunderstorms at least 2 h in advance.

Evolution of the U.S. Tornado Database: 1954–2003

Abstract: Over the last 50 yr, the number of tornadoes reported in the United States has doubled from about 600 per year in the 1950s to around 1200 in the 2000s This doubling is likely not related to meteorological causes alone To account for this increase a simple least squares linear regression was fitted to the annual number of tornado reports A “big tornado day” is a single day when numerous tornadoes and/or many tornadoes exceeding a specified intensity threshold were reported anywhere in the country By defining a big tornado day without considering the spatial distribution of the tornadoes, a big tornado day differs from previous definitions of outbreaks To address the increase in the number of reports, the number of reports is compared to the expected number of reports in a year based on linear regression In addition, the F1 and greater Fujita-scale record was used in determining a big tornado day because the F1 and greater series was more stationary over time as opposed to the F2 and greater

The Behavior of Total Lightning Activity in Severe Florida Thunderstorms

Abstract: The development of a new observational system called LISDAD (Lightning Imaging Sensor Demonstration and Display) has enabled a study of severe weather in central Florida. The total flash rates for storms verified to be severe are found to exceed 60 flashes/min, with some values reaching 500 flashes/min. Similar to earlier results for thunderstorm microbursts, the peak flash rate precedes the severe weather at the ground by 5-20 minutes. A distinguishing feature of severe storms is the presence of lightning "jumps"-abrupt increases in flash rate in advance of the maximum rate for the storm. ne systematic total lightning precursor to severe weather of all kinds-wind, hail, tornadoes-is interpreted in terms of the updraft that sows the seeds aloft for severe weather at the surface and simultaneously stimulates the ice microphysics that drives the lightning activity.

Climatological Estimates of Daily Local Nontornadic Severe Thunderstorm Probability for the United States

Abstract: The probability of nontornadic severe weather event reports near any location in the United States for any day of the year has been estimated. Gaussian smoothers in space and time have been applied to the observed record of severe thunderstorm occurrence from 1980 to 1994 to produce daily maps and annual cycles at any point. Many aspects of this climatology have been identified in previous work, but the method allows for the consideration of the record in several new ways. A review of the raw data, broken down in various ways, reveals that numerous nonmeteorological artifacts are present in the raw data. These are predominantly associated with the marginal nontornadic severe thunderstorm events, including an enormous growth in the number of severe weather reports since the mid-1950s. Much of this growth may be associated with a drive to improve warning verification scores. The smoothed spatial and temporal distributions of the probability of nontornadic severe thunderstorm events are presented in...