student spotlight
Matthew Rydzik: Tornado Chaser
May 2010
Matthew Rydzik traded in his computer for a tornado pod this summer to travel the country chasing tornados.
“Most of the time hopefully we’re chasing it, but sometimes it ends up chasing us,” said Rydzik, who left for Boulder, Colo. at the end of April for his second summer in the study.
The Penn State senior was a part of the Vortex2 project, a tornado field study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The study focuses on how, why, and when tornados form.
“Most of my research before had been computer-based and purely theoretical—sit behind a computer and plug through numbers,” said the Binghamton, New York native. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, different field work to help round out my education.”
For the first season, Rydzik’s team, which was made up of approximately 130 people including seven Penn State students and two Penn State professors, visited states all over the Midwest deploying pods in front of oncoming tornados.
These tornado pods, which weigh 120 pounds to keep them from blowing away, record temperature, pressure and relative humidity. This information provides researchers with a better understanding of what happens near the ground during a tornado, which is where people reside and buildings stand.
Rydzik had only one chance to chase a tornado last year because of a record-low year for severe weather patterns. A lack of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico being absorbed into the atmosphere prevented the development of energetic storm systems. This year, he is hoping for more energetic storms and chances to chase them.
In addition to research done on the Vortex2 project, Rydzik has done climate research related to his meteorology major.
Rydzik worked with Professor Raymond Najjar, an oceanographer, on evaluating climate change models. Najjar had heard of Rydzik’s abilities in programming, and asked him to join his research team.
“You find some undergraduates that are extraordinarily talented, and I would put Matt in that category,” Najjar said. “We have a very good meteorology program here, so our best students, like Matt, are truly superb.”
For the past two years, Rydzik analyzed global climate change models released in a 2007 report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Rydzik’s research provides localized and regionalized projections on precipitation, temperature and other environmental factors.
“Probably the best example is we worked on a Pennsylvania climate report last year, and provided climate projections for the next 100 years to people that were studying agriculture, energy, recreation, tourism, and human health,” said the dean’s list student. “We’re providing base knowledge that other people can base their research off of and get more localized impacts besides just the weather.”
For example, that climate report, titled Pennsylvania Climate Impact Assessment Report, helped to predict that there will be a shift in tree species found in North American forests, including an increase in some species and a decline, or even disappearance, of other species.
The research provided opportunities for Rydzik to round out his education at Penn State, including building relationships and being able to interact with professors.
Rydzik said that working with the professors on a more personal level has given him a greater appreciation of what professors do outside of the classroom.
“You have more understanding of that interplay between teaching in the classroom and doing the research,” Rydzik said. “Doing research is interacting with people that know a lot about the field; you’re bouncing ideas off of them, they can bounce ideas off of you, and it’s just good for the learning environment.”
Rydzik said his interest in weather began at an early age.
“Like most people in my field, I’ve always had a lifelong passion for weather,” said Rydzik. “My mom used to always tell me when I was growing up, I used to watch the Weather Channel all day long.”
Rydzik also said that the motivation he learned from being an Eagle Scout helps him continue with the research and academic experiences.
In high school, Rydzik realized that he could transform his hobby into a career that he would enjoy. He said Penn State was the best decision for him because it has a superior undergraduate meteorology program.
“I had that moment when I visited Penn State—it was a beautiful day here, and it just felt like the right place after visiting,” Rydzik said. “Penn State is world-renowned; everybody knows them, there are tons of professors with a wide range of interests, lots of courses to take, and big programs which give a lot of opportunities.”
After graduating with “high distinction” in May, Rydzik will be going to graduate school this fall at the University of Wisconsin to continue his education. There he will study the effect of snow cover on storm tracks.
“It’s something that’s very popular in today’s age and I want to be on the leading edge of what I can add to the field,” Rydzik said
by Mary Campbell, PSIEE Writing Intern
Matthew Rydzik is a senior in meteorology. He can be reached by email at myr5021@psu.edu.
For more information:
The Weather Channel: The Great Tornado Hunt - Vortex2
Meteorlogy Department: Spotlight - Vortex 2