The Hidden Life of Thunderstorms

Image courtesy NASA Some of the flight patterns used during the storm observations

Geosynchronous satellites can also provide a continuous view of storms, but these little remote-controlled planes offer some advantages.

"The UAV flies in the midst of the electrical and magnetic fields. Because it's so close to the storm it can pick up very small optical signals that distant satellites would miss," Blakeslee says.

"So there is a place in the future for UAV aircraft that could continuously observe storms," he says, which will help scientists get a clearer view of the hidden electrical life of thunderstorms.

For more information:

See 'Storm Chasers: Fury in the Skies' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/stormchasers-fury-in-the-skies_8.html

See 'Storm Chasers: Fury in the Plains' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/storm-chasers-fury-on-the-plains_9.html

See 'Oaklahoma Fury' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/oklahoma-fury_12.html

See 'When Nature Strikes Back: Chasing Killer Storms' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/when-nature-strikes-back-chasing-killer-storms_16.html