The first, Forces of Nature, was released in 2003 with a third of the film dedicated to tornadoes, the other two thirds were dedicated to volcanoes and earthquakes. In the eye, though, "It gets calm. Samaras coauthored, along with Stefan Bechtel and Greg Forbes, Tornado Hunter: Getting Inside the Most Violent Storms on Earth (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN978-1426203022), in 2009. Samaras also shot for art and for pleasure. [2] In total, he tracked down more than 125 tornadoes during his career. Whatever Happened to Matt on 'Storm Chasers'? The Truth Is Tragic At the time of his death, the cruise ship hosted the Atlantis Events all-gay Caribbean Cruise Olivia Newton-John had headlined a concert on board with the electronic dance music duo Galantis. Most storm chasers are safe, Frame told the BBC. The show chronicled several teams of storm chasers as they attempted to intercept tornadoes, collecting scientific data to improve warning systems and filming up-close footage using special armored vehicles and equipment in order to obtain a more complete picture of tornado structures. At the end of the day, if youre caught in a tornado capable of throwing the vehicle, a weight difference of 500 or 800 pounds wont matter. Mostly when stopped. Conical in shape, about 6 inches tall and 20 inches across, it is roughly the size of a sedan tire and can withstand the flow field of a violent tornado. Even though he wasnt featured in the show, his contribution to storm chasing was undeniable, as he collected data for science, and risked his life in obtaining it. But before that happened, Witt stole second base in the top . The chasers got too close to the twister, the critics say, setting a . With just 13 hurricanes hitting the continental U.S. since 2010, chasing hurricanes requires a passport and a willingness to spend days making connecting flights to international destinations. 795 talking about this. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. When National Geographic caught up with the author at his home in Dallas, Texas, Hargrove explained why Tim Samaras was much more than just a storm chaser; why the Great Plains are the worlds premier breeding ground for tornadoes; and why the storm that eventually killed Samaras was so deadly. "[7] National Geographic remarked "Tim was a courageous and brilliant scientist who fearlessly pursued tornadoes and lightning in the field in an effort to better understand these phenomena. My whole life is hunting that feeling again and again, he tells Mental Floss. "There was just no place to go. The vehicles on the roads had broken windows., In the storm-chasing community, theres much debate over what separates a professional from an amateur. [citation needed], On January 21, 2012, Tim Samaras and Sean Casey confirmed on their Facebook pages that Storm Chasers was cancelled by Discovery Communications. Eventually, the rain curtains overtake them and they encounter increasing headwind speeds of 100-plus mph. ), According to Montana-based storm chaser and National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Mottice, experienced chasers know to fear traffic more than the weather. The series was initially filmed during late spring and early summer, and later Discovery shot it in the lesser-known Dixie Alley. Newlyweds Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams Explore Magic Kingdom, Plus More Celebs at Disney Parks! At the time of his death, Andy was two weeks away from his 25th birthday. The Most Memorable Contestants of 'American Idol': Where Are They Now? (Chasers can also measure factors like humidity, wind speed, and temperature. Tim assisted in the photography and shop work. Discovery Channel released an officialstatement following his funeral:We are so saddened to hear about Joels passing. Heres why each season begins twice. Tornadoes cant survive with unidirectional winds. Immediately out of high school and without a rsum, he was hired as a walk-in at the University of Denver Research Institute. The vehicle suffered constant chronic mechanical problems, and was sent for re-modification early in the season, and was replaced with the original TIV. Tims team also consisted of his son Paul Samaras, and another storm-chaser, Carl Young, and they occasionally worked with the award-winning meteorologist Tony Laubach too. [11] Samaras had another son, Matt Winter, whom he had only learned about seven years before Samaras' death and who was welcomed into the family. Scientist Karen Kosiba goes into the eye of the storm to investigate the 2011 tornado season. During Tropical Storm Ida, John Huntington, a 57-year-old storm chaser from Brooklyn, was driving near the Brooklyn Army Terminal when he ran into flash flooding. However, thats not the case with Matt Hughes, who died on 26 May 2010 in Kansas from a non-chasinginjury. Tim Samaras, 55, was not known to be risky. [1] In his twenties, he began to chase storms "not for the thrill, but the science. Our Tornado Intercept Vehicle- TIV 2 with TIV 1 last year! Texas was the leader in fatalities, with nearly 10 percent of that total. If youve wondered how they can do that without putting themselves at risk, the answer is simple. The show has clocked a number of cast members death, including the driver and meteorologist Joel Taylor. An accomplished photographer and videographer, another research method was photogrammetry, with some footage derived from cameras in probes shooting from within tornadoes. From left, Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son Paul Samaras were killed Friday, May 31, while following a tornado in El Reno . Chasers are the original distracted drivers, Magliocco said. [7] On June 2, Discovery dedicated "Mile Wide Tornado: Oklahoma," a special about the May 20 Moore, Oklahoma tornado, to the memory of Samaras and his TWISTEX colleagues. Institutions. [5] He was also widely interviewed by news stations, newspapers, and magazines and appeared in documentaries. During the 2009 season, the series also documented the TWISTEX team, led by engineer and veteran storm chaser Tim Samaras, who was killed in 2013 while storm-chasing in El Reno, Oklahoma along with his son Paul and fellow storm-chaser Carl Young. The main purpose of the TWISTEX team is to deploy their "turtle" probes into the path of tornadoes and deploy mesonet vehicles around the twister. The damage associated with these storms. [7] They were also featured in The Weather Channel's television special "Dangerous Day Ahead" which aired a month later. The accomplishment is listed in the Guinness World Records as "greatest pressure drop measured in a tornado". I worry some kids will watch what I do and try to do it but without the experience and knowledge that I have., 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The strong inflow and outer circulation winds in conjunction with rocky roads and a relatively underpowered vehicle also hampered driving away from the tornado. He didnt know it then, but he had achieved what atmospheric scientists had been trying and failing to do for decades. [6] He also worked at National Technical Systems and Hyperion Technology Group. Tim Samaras always wanted to be a storm chaser and he was one of the best. No one better at dominating back roads behind the wheel., Storm Chasers was canceled after five seasons in January 2012. He was fascinated by storms. [13], Alameda International Junior/Senior High School, "Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras funeral services set for Littleton on Thursday", "Colorado storm chaser Tim Samaras killed in Oklahoma tornado along with son and longtime partner", "The Last Ride of Legendary Storm Chaser Tim Samaras", "Tim Samaras Dead: Oklahoma Tornado Kills Storm Chaser, Son Paul Samaras, and Chase Partner Carl Young", "Greatest pressure drop measured in a tornado", "Pressure Measurements at the ground in an F-4 tornado", "World: Lowest Sea Level Air Pressure (excluding tornadoes)", "Thermal imaging system for internal combustion engines", "Tim Samaras' Wife Opens Up About The Storm Chaser's Life", "Some Considerations for the Use of High-Resolution Mobile Radar Data in Tornado Intensity Determination", "Central Oklahoma Tornadoes and Flash Flooding May 31, 2013", "The El Reno tornado unusual & very deadly", "Tornado Scientist Tim Samaras and Team Killed in Friday's El Reno, OK Tornado", "The storm chaser dilemma and choice to sit out the May 31 Oklahoma City tornadoes", "The day that should change tornado actions and storm chasing forever", "El Reno Survey A survey of the tornado of 31 May 2013", "Storm Chaser Tim Samaras: One Year After His Death, His Gift Is Unmatched", "Deputy Works To Create Memorial For Samaras Storm Chasing Team", "Monument for fallen storm chasers vandalized", "NOAA statement on deaths of storm researchers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young", "Memorial service Thursday for storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, killed in El Reno tornado", Explorers bio at National Geographic Society, El Reno: Lessons From the Most Dangerous Tornado in Storm Observing History, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tim_Samaras&oldid=1137531686, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 03:23. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? But as the storm is getting closer, people are worrying and start panicking. I worry Im setting a bad example. Young also died in the tragic tornado pursuit. Almost nowhere else in the world do you have this unstable moist air mass out of the Gulf of Mexico meeting the drier air mass coming over the Rockies, along with cold polar air coming out of the North. Matts death was revealed in the fourth episode entitled Dedication of season four; this was Matts last feature on the show. The Storm Chasers' game with the Iowa Cubs was canceled because of rain with the Chasers leading 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Storm chasers in my area drove all over tornado alley this morning, making a Bill Paxton memorial using spotter network maps. Theres exterior coating to prevent punctures in the vehicle., While the roll cage is heavy, the goal isnt to make the vehicle heavier so it's harder for a tornado to pick up. The cause of his death remains unclear at this time, but several of his friends shared the sad news on social media, commemorating the. What happened to Matt in 'Storm Chasers'? - Biography Research On a storm chase, their truck blasted through a stop sign at 70 mph, colliding with fellow storm chaser Corbin Jaeger. [5], In addition to tornadoes, he was interested in all aspects of convective storms with particular research focus on lightning, for which he utilized cameras shooting up to 1.4 million fps. All rights reserved. [2] The measurement is also the lowest pressure, 850 hectopascals (25.10inHg), ever recorded at Earth's surface when adjusted for elevation. We just happen to have a kind of geography where we have all these different air masses colliding to form more than 1,000 tornadoes per year. [4] Tim Samaras was reportedly relieved when the show was cancelled as he thought it focused more on interpersonal drama than on the storms themselves.[5]. Others are simply attracted to the beauty of the storms, capturing natures violent expressions in what could be considered an extreme form of landscape photography. He called 911, but couldn't. It's no secret that chasing storms is dangerous business, and three individuals who were featured on the program met their demises after getting caught up in tornadoes. Tim jumps out, activates the probe, plants it in the dirt, then sprints back into the vehicle and peels out as fast as he can with this tornado dropping pieces of housing insulation into the road ahead. Photograph by Carsten Peter, Nat Geo Image Collection, Photograph Courtesy Simon & Schuster Publicity. (See Storm Chasing Myths.). Talking to Accuweather, Reed disclosed: I was unable to get back to the vehicle and couldnt see it, so I just turned my back to the wind and hoped for the best until it passed. Reed is a passionate meteorologist and weather enthusiast, who had already encountered deadly vortexes, and managed to film them without sustaining severe injuries. [13] His colleagues considered him to be one of the most careful chasers in the business. On February 4, 2016, Herbert Stein (former driver of the Doppler on Wheels) died at age 57 after a short battle with pancreatic and liver cancer. In 2016, he captured footage of a massive EF2 tornado as it tore across Wray, Colorado. Chasers become close friends. It was a huge day. For a week at a time you can drive thousands of miles just to see a thunderstorm that doesnt produce. He also contributed to Storm Track magazine. Heres what they had to say about airborne houses, armored trucks, and why you wont usually see any of them wearing a helmet. For the occupation or avocation, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of programs broadcast by Discovery Channel, "Tim Samaras Confirms Storm Chasers Canceled", The Hollywood Reporter: "Discovery Airing Tribute to 'Stormchasers' Stars Killed in Oklahoma Tornado", "HERBERT STEIN Obituary - Elyria, OH | The Plain Dealer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Storm_Chasers_(TV_series)&oldid=1125743472, 2000s American documentary television series, 2010s American documentary television series, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2010, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 December 2022, at 16:26. The popular cast members of the show and meteorologists, deeply involved in tornado research, were killed by a violent wedge tornado in El Rino, Oklahoma on 3 June 2013. As you can imagine, its an extremely dangerous place. He hasnt had a direct strike yet, like Tim had, but he is working on it. To better understand what motivates these individuals to seek out cataclysmic events, Mental Floss spoke to three extreme weather specialists. This may be an area where chasers can work to reduce risk. Pat Porter, the guy with him, is clearly nervous, saying, Tim, please hurry! You can hear the fear in his voice. In the 90s, you had the Vortex Project, a multi-million-dollar, federally funded moon shot-like effort to understand tornadoes. Crashes involving a stop-sign violation make up a majority of accidents. Storm . "Chasing tornadoes is a gritty, down-and-dirty adventure with a solid group of people whom I feel a close bond with," said Byron Turk. Spotter - FAQs - National Weather Service There was this romantic notion of storm chasing. Several teams of storm chasers appear in the series. Tornado pursuer Tim Samaras, who previously hosted the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers series. But for storm chasers, tumultuous weather is an invitation to move toward the danger. Unfortunately, the network never disclosed the reason, or released an official statement regarding the cancelation. And what they dont understand, and cant see, is that the tornado is beginning to hook toward them. Its certainly possible that chasers are at greater risk simply because of the sheer number of miles they drive. Im in the vehicle taking remote pictures. DOW and Scout were headed by Dr. Wurman in seasons one and two. I Wanted To Know Why A Storm Chaser Would Drive Into A Tornado - Forbes Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.. Theres also research that seems to indicate that there may actually be a decrease in wind shear, which is another primary energy source for tornadoes. In Montana, a storm produced 120 mile-per-hour winds. In real life scenarios, its far worse than anything they show in the movie. A chasers first priority, he says, is to stop and help anyone who might need assistance. Further, the insurance world expects the average driver to get into one accident about every two decades. Samaras was born November 12, 1957, in Lakewood, Colorado, to Paul T. and Margaret L. In the spring of 2013, TWISTEX was conducting lightning research (including with a high-speed camera) when active tornadic periods ensued in mid to late May, so Samaras decided to deploy atmospheric pressure probes and to test infrasound tornado sensors that were still under development. Tornado chasers come from all walks of life. The only thing they have in common is that they go out chasing one day and get bit by the bug. [15], Samaras was survived by his wife Kathy, two daughters, a son from a previous relationship, brothers Jim and Jack, and two grandchildren. Its my opinion that the Weather Channel has a very long history of promoting and executing dangerous behavior, photojournalist and storm chaser Warren Faidley wrote at Stormtrack.org, a forum for chasers. The 2011 outbreak of tornadoes in Dixie Alley caused at least $27 billion in damage and something like 360 deaths. It threw golf ball-sized hail on us. What got him interested in storm chasing was a NOVA documentary on twisters. Once, he says, I didnt know a storm was blowing up behind the one we were chasing. Timothy Michael Samaras (November 12, 1957 - May 31, 2013) was an American engineer and storm chaser best known for his field research on tornadoes and time on the Discovery Channel show, Storm Chasers. He is survived by his wife . But storm chasers have declined to back away. They often take video or photos of storms for hobby, education, or research but may not report their observations during the storm. [5] Samaras's widow, Kathy, revealed in her first news interview since his death that she will continue ChaserCon, which consistently attracts luminary scientists and chasers as speakers. [11] Samaras held a patent, "Thermal imaging system for internal combustion engines", with Jon M. He pointed to past situations when chasers at the Weather Channel took ill-advised risks, including an on-camera meteorologist and crew getting hit by the El Reno tornado in 2013. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. What are brothers John and Lonnie Hambrick from My 600-lb Life doing now? [7] With one such in-situ probe, he captured the largest drop in atmospheric pressure, 100 hPa (mb) in less than one minute, ever recorded when a F4 tornado struck one of several probes placed near Manchester, South Dakota on June 24, 2003. He obtained a Pentagon security clearance by 20, testing and building weapons systems. Even the lowest-key folks will usually have a setup that allows them to look at a display of data from their seats when stopped. Although the official boundaries of Tornado Alley are not clearly defined, its core extends from northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, into Nebraska. Luckily the approaching storm weakened, but "if the storm had been producing a tornado at the time . (GENE BLEVINS/REUTERS). His work was funded in large part by the National Geographic Society (NGS) which awarded him 18 grants for his field work. Given that storm chasing is a dangerous business, some of the storm chasers often succumb to Mother Natures fury. There are some really good reasons for chasing storms -- mainly, scientific research, though a few people make a living selling photographs or footage of storms. Forecasters were often wary to announce storms for fear of causing panic or making people complacent if the storms did not appear. [14] In 2005, he was named an "Emerging Explorer" by the National Geographic Society. The monument was struck by bullets and the American flag was cut away from the flagpole. As a result, hurricane hunters are a small subgroup of the storm chaser demographic. The TIV crew was led by Casey and Marcus Gutierrez, Driver and rescue Medic who took over Ronan's job as driver of the series, and Byron Turk, navigator and a shooter/producer for the show. "Doing anything else would only take time away from that. [6] The three were featured in a Storm Chasers special, "Mile Wide Tornado: Oklahoma Disaster", aired on The Discovery Channel on June 5, 2013. Morgerman says the violent winds of a hurricanes eyewall can leave enduring effects. Storm chasers keep an even closer eye on weather data, but for a different reason. The U.S. each year sees an average of 1253 tornadoesa massive column of spinning air borne out of thunderstorms and creating winds up to 250 miles per hour. His probe went into the core of an F4 tornado. I remember being a 15-year-old weather nerd wanting to have these experiences. [5] Broadcast [ edit] But a unique brand of folks called "storm chasers" is looking to lower the number of victims with information and photos they're collecting out in the field on the trail of the killer storms. This Stormtrack thread has more details on each one: https://t.co/Q4ClK44zHb pic.twitter.com/flvA63ddJD. Initially, the cause of his death remained undisclosed, which contributed to the mystery. Following the news of his tragic death, dozens of chasers and spotters in Kansasformedthe initials A.G on SpotterNetwork.Orgs map as a tribute to Andy. When hearing of a storm chasers death, many conclude that he might have been caught-up in a chase that he couldnt handle. He died a week later on May 26, 2010, in Wichita, Kan., at age 30. It's one of the most difficult aspects of . "I did get married, briefly, only for a few months, and I think that chasing storms is my lifelong passion," he revealed to the outlet. During a thunderstorm hed run a line out to a power pole outside to see if he could conduct a little bit of the charge to a light bulb. Herbs filmed adventures were featured in several TV productions, such as Tornado and Naked Science. A graduate of Oklahoma University, Herb actively worked with the National Geographic Channel and the Weather Channel and was a spokesperson for the Natural History Museum in Cleveland. The life of any storm chaser is supposed to be thrilling, and it isfor a few minutes or hours at a time. The cause of his death remains unclear at this time, but several of his friends shared the sad news on social media, commemorating the late meteorologist. The documentary-style reality TV series premiered in October 2007. The El Reno tornado of 2013 was purpose-built to kill chasers, and Tim was not the only chaser to run into serious trouble that day. The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. Dangerously reckless chasers are rare, in my experience, Amos Magliocco, a veteran chaser, told The Washington Post. (Discovery Channel/Discovery Channel), Moments before they lost their lives, the terrified voices of veteran storm chaser Tim Samaras and his son, Paul, could be heard shouting, "We're going to die" as they desperately tried to outrun a massive Oklahoma tornado. It is essentially an instrument package, which he made from a shell of milled steel. Casey and Marcus Gutierrez led the TIV group, which also included Byron Turk, Brendan Ivy, Matt Hughes and Ronan. Community and friendship - Storm chasing is like any other hobby. I have a roll cage to prevent it from being crushed. The show was canceled in January 2012 by Discovery Communications. All rights reserved. Carl Young helps pilot the Probe vehicle while Tony Laubach drives one of the mesonet vehicles, M3. Taylor starred on "Storm Chasers" from 2008 until it was canceled in 2012. On January 21, 2012, Tim Samaras and Sean Casey confirmed on their Facebook pages that Storm Chasers was cancelled by Discovery Communications. 3. Tornado pursuer Tim Samaras, who previously hosted the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers series. Regarding the cast, it included most of the original members, with a couple of new additions such as Jim Cantore, Ginger Zee and Mike Morgan. In addition, the chasing group Severe Studio launched a memorial fund to collect money for Andys daughter and parents. The thing that keeps me up at night is the driving, not the tornado, he says. The Man Who Caught the Storm is the saga of the greatest tornado chaser who ever lived: a tale of obsession and daring, and an extraordinary account of humanity's high-stakes race to understand . Reportedly, Matt had battled depression for a long time, and eventually committed suicide by hanging himself, aged 30. At this point, they are well within the core of the tornado. They need converging winds. He skipped out on chasing the massive tornado that flattened Moore, Okla., because it was too dangerous. 11 Secrets of Storm Chasers | Mental Floss Chasers need their version of a Batmobile. He wanted to do that. With flying wreckage cutting through the air, it would stand to reason storm chasers should equip themselves with helmets. The first link in the chain that would eventually bind them was that they were going to make this east turn, but realized it was going to lead them into dead end, and they would be out of the chase. There is definitely a moral conundrum that goes on, because later I found out we were very near a village that was almost completely destroyed. [4] Tim Samaras was reportedly relieved when the show was cancelled as he thought it focused more on interpersonal drama than on the storms themselves. Paul Samaras and Young were sucked out of the vehicle. 5+ Mind Blowing Storm Chasers Facts for Your Homework The TIV was outfitted with weather instruments which collect data from approximately 12 feet above ground that, when combined with the DOW radar imagery and the probe data, can help to give Josh a more complete picture of a tornado's structure. Each is dangerous, devastatingand, in the eyes of storm chasers, beautiful. Herb Stein had a long and stable career as a meteorologist and on TV; his first credited work was in the 1991 documentary Casing the Wind. Several years later, he appeared in Storm Chasers, a short movie in which he tried to recreate the meteorological conditions found in storms. He was taken to hospital, but succumbed to the injuries and died 13 days later. His goal was to expand the lead time on tornadoes, which he said is about 17 minutes. The Tragic Deaths of Seven Storm Chasers All with a Single - Medium Storm chasers drove into a tornado on purpose. Then their peers berated Storm chasers typically drive many miles, hunt down storms, and are not familiar with the communities they are visiting. Christina Haack Cuddles With Sons Brayden and Hudson, Plus More Stars Snuggle Up, Meet the Talented Emerging Artists That Should Be on Your Playlists This Spring. Matt Hughes was a well-known cast member of Storm Chasers in the first two seasons of the series, who worked for ABCs new affiliate KAKE-TV, which operated out of Wichita, Kansas. Timmer's team is known as "Team Dominator" in the show, referring to the name of their own armored chase vehicle, the SRV Dominator.

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