Apart from Gensini, the project’s co-leaders include Becky Adams-Selin, a hail scientist at Atmospheric and Environmental Research, John Allen from Central Michigan University, and Andy Heymsfield from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Described as a ‘renaissance moment’ by Adams-Selin, the field of hail science is experiencing a resurgence. She stated to the National Science Foundation that the project not only provides essential data for researchers and weather forecasters but also offers assistance to insurance companies in setting rates and minimizing damage, roofing companies, farmers, and other stakeholders affected by hail. “We are deeply connected with the end-users of our scientific findings,” she emphasized.
A garden in Les Esserts, Switzerland was once shrouded in hailstones following a hailstorm in 2009. The ICECHIP researchers aim to collect data that could enhance hailstorm prediction capabilities and address fundamental inquiries, such as the impact of climate change on hailstorm frequency and the size of hailstones, as reported by Science magazine.
Funding for the project, totaling $11 million, was secured through a research grant from the National Science Foundation. Despite recent budget cuts at the Foundation, Gensini confirmed that funds were still being provided for the campaign as of Friday. This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Hail research to study the perplexing ice that falls from the sky.
