U.S. Space & Rocket Center opens exhibit explaining weather tracking
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The U.S. Space and Rocket Center opened an exhibit Monday, taking a look at the connection between space and weather and how that weather impacts people each day.
The exhibit, named 'How We Know the Weather,' explains the formation of weather systems and how experts use tools like radar to tell people what to expect in a forecast.
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'Weather, you know, affects everybody, everywhere, and so a better understanding of the weather makes a better life for those all around the world,' Baron Weather Institute Founder Bob Baron said.
The exhibit includes 30 interactive and hands-on displays that start by exploring how the interaction between the Earth and Sun impacts weather across the planet. Baron said the exhibit is the result of years of collaboration between the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and the Baron Weather Institute.
'Our company, Baron Weather, was very fortunate in actually being formed just as computers and big data were coming together,' Baron said. 'It has been a wonderful experience over the last 30 years now to discover new things about the weather and our ability to explain it, to support safety, but to also enjoy it as a feature of everyday life.'
The exhibit takes a look at weather tracking technology through time and highlights the work done in the Tennessee Valley to track the weather.
'Huntsville and North Alabama sees a lot of severe weather,' News 19's Certified Chief Meteorologist, Danielle Dozier said. 'One of the big things that was missing, I think across our community, was some sort of science museum or weather exhibit. Now that we have it here at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, it's exciting. I'm excited to be in the exhibit, and you're going to learn a lot about dual polarization, radar and all of the radar technology that's come along the way over the last couple of decades to help improve how we track weather.'
Danielle is featured in the exhibit, explaining some of the technology used to keep people safe. Dual-polarization radar is something you will see News 19's Weather Authority Team use to track severe weather.
'We call it debris tracker, and it allows us to see where debris is being lofted into the air and being able to identify a tornado as it's in progress,' Danielle said.
The exhibit is open to the public, and admission is included with tickets to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
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