posted 05-30-2002 03:30 PM               

Norman (AP) - Western Oklahomans shouldn't be worried if they see low-flying planes, they're probably part of a weather research project.

Six specialized planes from the U-S and Germany are part of a project that began earlier this month and fly as low as 100 feet over lightly populated areas.

Research meteorologist David Parsons says officials understand the planes may cause concern, but says he wants residents to know they're not a threat.

The International H-Two-Oh Project is studying clear air in an effort to understand how temperature, humidity and wind work together to form storms. Meteorologists also hope to be able to pinpoint where and when severe weather will develop and to better predict flooding.

More than 80 scientists from the U-S, Germany, France, Canada and the Netherlands are working in western Oklahoma, southern Kansas and the Texas Panhandle