TOTO

The "TOTO" Probe or the "TOtable tOrnado Observatory"| is a mechanical probe used to intercept tornadoes to collect data such as wind speeds, pressure, temperature, and humidity. However, this probe has not officially directly intercepted the core of a tornado. However, you may think, how does this probe not turn into an Airbus A320 when inside a tornado? Well the important design of the probe is very aerodynamic. Don't ask me how I don't know how a white can of beans with a cage around it can withstand a tornado. One feature that may help it stay grounded is weight, since weight applies a downard force and a tornado applies an upward force, the weight counter acts the winds and stays grounded. However, I may be wrong, so correct me if I am about the probe flying.

 Anyways, this probe was created in 1970-1980. Sadly, this probe was retired in 1987. This is because of safety concerns and the difficulty of deploying it in the path of a tornado. This probe was used in the movie "Twisters" and "Twister" to memorialize the probe, renaming it "Dorothy."

Purpose:

• Gather vital information inside the tornado to help learn and discover more about the anatomy and features of tornadoes.

• Helping improve tornado warnings to help keep civilians safe and informed, while also understanding tornado behavior.

Challenges & Outcome:

• Extreme danger: Obviously, going straight into the path of a tornado is dangerous; you only have a maximum of 2 minutes before the tornado engulfs the probe.

• Deployment difficulties: The heavy Probe was hard to load onto the vehicle, while also being very hard to deploy, which is very risky to the storm chasers' lives.

• Lightning risks: The very metal-structured probe posed a lightning risk, especially since the probe handlers are very close to the probe while deploying.

LEGACY

Inspiration for Twister and Twisters: This probe was renamed Dorothy and was used as a probe launching metal fragments to monitor and study the anatomy and shape of the tornado. 

Display: This probe is now on display at the National Weather Service Center in Norman, Oklahoma.