In this addition to the critically-acclaimed Scientist in the Field series, scientist Robin Tanamachi and her team are trying save countless lives across America’s heartland, chasing one tornado at a time. Robin Tanamachi has been captivated by tornadoes and extreme weather her entire life. When she realised people researched weather for a job, she was hooked. She now studies tornadogenesis, or how tornadoes form, and what causes them to get weaker versus strengthen. For her, driving around in a Doppler radar truck aiming towards storms is a normal day in the office. The data she collects is then modeled and studied on computers
with math, physics, and computer science working hand in hand with meteorology. At the end of the day, knowing exactly how, when, and where these violent storms happen can give more warning time for everyone involved. AGES: 10 to 12 AUTHOR: Mary Kay Carson and Tom Uhlman are married and live with their dog Ruby in a century-old house surrounded by deer, hawks, woodchucks, songbirds, and other creatures in Cincinnati, Ohio. Check out Mary Kay’s other Scientist in the Field books including Park Scientists, Emi and the Rhino Scientist, The Bat Scientist, and Mission to Pluto. SELLING POINTS: . Maths, radar, electronics, weather/meteorology all come together in a fast-paced story. Most of the forces that come together to create tornadic activity has little to do with water or water-based weather, which is part of why they are harder to predict/forecast. . Always exciting for a female lead, especially in a non-animal science role. This is a scary, high-stress occupation that also sees Robin using computers, graphs, math, etc. on a daily basis. . If a tornado is spotted, a warning is issued. By using math, radars, and more, Robin is trying to research, observe, and gather information in order to prevent and protect in advance of the actual spotting of the tornado.