Hurricane in a Box

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Brian Haus watches as the still air stirs into over 150 mph winds. The flat turquoise water suddenly churns a series of endless crashing waves of white frothy foam. Thankfully, Haus does not have to actually weather these powerful storms. Instead, he gets a close view from a safe distance at the Surge Structure Atmosphere Interaction Facility (or SUSTAIN Laboratory, for short). With a flip of a switch and a large diesel generator, the lab can concoct hurricanes on command in a box—a very large box stretching 75 feet long and 6.5 feet high—mimicking some of the most intense hurricanes that have ever been observed. By brewing these contained storms, Haus and his team can study the complex interactions between the air and the surface of the sea under extreme conditions, and use the information to improve intensity forecasting.
Produced by Luke Groskin
Edited by Sarah Galloway
Music by Audio Network.com
Additional Footage and Stills Provided by
SUSTAIN LAB, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami, POND 5, NASA GOES Project, NASA ISS,
Lt. Rob Mitchell/NOAA