Integrating Photogrammetry and Damage Surveys into Severe Local Storm Analyses (Invited Presentation)

Our understanding of severe local phenomena has greatly improved owing to advancements of remote sensing techniques and the improved ability to collect in situ measurements.  However, many of these phenomena occur on relatively short temporal and spatial scales such that collecting comprehensive data sets remains a challenge.  The incorporation of photogrammetric analysis and post-storm aerial and ground surveys of damage, however, has provided additional insight of severe weather events in a number of cases.  The former can be merged with remote sensing data in a way that significantly augments the interpretation of the visual characteristics of the phenomenon.  The latter provides ground truth based on damage to structures and vegetation.   A number of examples (e.g., tornadoes, waterspouts, and microbursts) that illustrate the merger of these data sets will be presented.