Tim Samaras races ahead of a storm to deploy specially reinforced measuring instruments in its path. Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornado chaser Anton Seimon at work.

Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina—and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Warning sirens howl as an intense storm develops a strong rotation. In the end it produced only a very brief F1 tornado (on a scale of F0 to F5). Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Researcher Tim Samaras drops a probe in the path of a tornado before racing back to his van, with just a minute to spare before the tornado hits. Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Most of the town was destroyed by an F4 tornado. Residents were given a 28-minute warning, and although five people were injured there were no fatalities. Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

During clean up after a tornado, an image of another tornado is found. Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Researchers chase a storm near Fort Summer. Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornado chaser Tim Samaras after dropping a probe in the path of a tornado. Tornadoes number among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

Tornadoes rank among the Earth's most violent natural occurrences, yet no-one fully understands how they work. Chasing tornadoes for science requires skilled forecasts, plenty of stamina - and an ability to get out of the way quickly.

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