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Show n death and a eSYFUCYBOn o n mcane numm plane n n V unaware of the hurricane raging about them. But the hurricane' hunters have pushed into the eye of the storm to take some final readings. They drop a parachute with an instrument called a dropsonde. As it descends, the radio transmits data on the pressure, temperature and humidity of the air through which it is falling to the sea. With gas running out,the plane turns for home while others take up the task of observing the hurricane. For a week or more, they keep watch on Alice while she puffs out her cheeks and careens crazily across the ocean. Hurricanes like Alice are born when a column of hot, humid air rises up and meets a layer of cold air. Rain begins to fall and the earth's rotation puts a spin on the column. In a couple of days, the hurricane is liable to measure forty miles across with winds well ot over 100 miles an hour whipping up drop-sond- self-contain- ed e's silent center, the hurricane can V ITHIN itsfour billion pounds of air off pick up every square mile of water, allowing the sea to rise 10 feet. Pour trillion pounds of water are being lifted every day to be released as driving rain within another 24 hours! x V But eventually the hurricane grows slimmer and slows down. As it moves farther over the cold Atlantic, its driving force of hot air is cooled down. The men of the Air Weather Service note that barometers report nearly normal air pressure once again. The winds are practically spent. Finally, the hurricane-huntin- g pilot can find only a patch of clouds, all that remains of the threatening storm which deyeloped hundredsv of miles away. He fiiessafely through the fleecy clouds and reports the unlamentid death of another hurricane. Out goes the message: "Take down the hurricane warning flags" until next time. , 100-fo- waves. Coos! Guard weatherman preparing a radiosonde balloon for observation of tho upper air, a help in hunting storms. : if y . i ...! 27, 1953 . ! FA.'JLY WEEKLY LXAGAZIUI |