Inside the United States’ Billion-Dollar Blind Spot: Hail

Scientists lack a complete understanding of hail formation processes. Storm chasers and researchers are conducting field studies to gather data on hail-producing storms. The National Science Foundation and other federal agencies fund hail research programs. Hail causes an estimated 1 billion dollars in annual damage to crops and property in the United States, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Current research focuses on how ice crystals form and grow within thunderstorms.

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