Lack of data poses challenge in forecasting tornados in Japan
The tornado that hit eastern Japan last week highlighted the problems that forecasters face, reports The Mainichi. The local meteorological agency is equipped with radars that can help to issue tornado warnings. However, according to Hiroshi Niino, of the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute due to lack of a nationwide radar network and information sharing mechanism, such as those operating in the USA, it is hard to forecast well in advance. He added, , "We need to be fully aware that forecasting is a difficult task to implement, before working out ways to make effective use of what little information we have." The author also writes about the Japanese business and research institutes that have been experimenting with new ways of weather forecasting.