Hail is more destructive and costly than tornadoes, and a new field campaign called ICECHIP is set to study the phenomena in the largest field campaign ever. The campaign will involve approximately 100 researchers studying hail processes in thunderstorms in the central U.S. in May and June. Hail can range in size from peas to grapefruits and can cause significant damage to homes, vehicles, crops, and more, resulting in billions of dollars in losses annually. The U.S. Central Plains states and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains are known as “hail alleys” due to their frequent hailstorms.
The ICECHIP project aims to advance scientific understanding of hail and improve detection and prediction of severe hail. Researchers hope to collect data to enhance hailstorm prediction and address questions about how climate change may impact the frequency and size of hailstones. The project is funded by an $11 million research grant from the National Science Foundation and is supported by various entities affected by hail, including insurance companies, farmers, and roofing companies.
With the last major hail research campaign taking place in the 1970s, ICECHIP represents a significant advancement in hail science and is described as a “renaissance moment” for the field. Researchers will use a variety of instruments and techniques to gather data on hail processes and characteristics. Despite recent budget cuts at the National Science Foundation, funds are still being provided for the campaign. By studying hail in depth, researchers hope to mitigate damage, improve forecasting, and better understand the impact of climate change on hailstorms.
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