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Formation of Tornadoes
Tornadoes are formed due to large super cells. Super cells are nothing
but a huge cluster of thunderstorm clouds. A simple explanation to its
formation is as follows: warm air rises up as it has a low vapor
pressure and cold air drops down because of its high vapor pressure.
Due to this, the warm air in the end forms a vortex and forms a funnel
cloud, otherwise known as a tornado. A characteristic green color
appears in the sky when a tornado is completely formed and ready for
destruction.
Thirdly, a rotating wall cloud originating from the center of the storm
(eye of the storm) is formed as the base cloud. This region is rain-free.
Just moments later, a tornado is formed and it starts revolving around
violently at high speeds and cause havoc in and around the
environment.
Lifetime of a Tornado
Every tornado has a definite lifetime. The down pouring rainfall drags a
rapidly descending region of air known as the rear flank downdraft. It
drags the super cell’s Meso cyclone (area of organized rotation) to the
ground with it.
Formation:
As the meso- cyclone approaches the ground, it begins to take in the
cool moist (condensation) air along with it. This makes the funnel to
appear. As the funnel descends, RFD also reaches the ground. This
creates a gust front, which can be very destructive, from the tornado.
The funnel cloud becomes a tornado within minutes of the RFD
reaching the ground.
Development:
The power source of a tornado is the warm, moist air which is in
abundance. It stays in this phase for about 1-2 hours and evidently,
this is the most destructive phase of the tornado. The RFD, now at this
point, is a cool flow of air and it wraps itself around the tornado cutting
off its source of warm air.
Termination:
The RFD wraps itself around the tornado completely now and the
vortex begins to weaken. Due to the choking, the tornado has now
dissipated. The storm has now been deflated but the winds can still
have high speeds. Sometimes, new tornadoes can generate from the
meso-cyclone of the previous one.
Most tornadoes spin in the cyclonic direction while some rotate in the
anti-cyclonic direction. Tornadoes are formed any time throughout the
year but a major number of tornadoes are formed during late April to
May. In the northern parts of USA, the peak session for tornadoes is
much later. This is because it takes longer to warm the northern parts
of the plains and hence the tornadoes form later.
What is a Tornado?
A tornado is a strong, turbulent column of air, moving fast and keeping
in contact with the earth’s surface and a vertically formed cloud
carrying dense water vapors, called the cumulonimbus cloud.
Commonly, the tornadoes are shaped like a funnel, but the shape and
structure can vary according to the climatic conditions. The bottom
end of the vortex is surrounded by a cloud of dust and debris.
Tornadoes are formed from the extremely large thunderstorms called
supercells.
There are different types of tornadoes which are observed all over the
world. Some of them are:
Landspout Tornado
These are similar to waterspout tornadoes in terms of relative
weakness, short lifespan, and a small, smooth condensation funnel
which often does not reach the surface. There is no rotating updraft –
the spinning motion originates near the ground. They are usually
weaker than normal tornadoes but can create winds which can cause
serious damage.
Dust-Devil Tornado
They are similar to the normal tornadoes, of vertically rotating column
of air. But they occur under clean skies and are very weak. They form
when a strong hot updraft is formed near the ground on a hot day. A
Dust-Devil tornado occurs when the sun heats dry land surfaces
forming a twisting column of air. These types of tornadoes are
commonly known as willy willy in Australia.
Gustnado Tornado
This type of tornado has a gust like vertical updraft of air. They are not
connected with a cloud base. They are formed when cold dry updraft
of air mixes with the moist cool air which is stationary resulting in a
rolling effect. A Gustnado is short-lived and lasts from few seconds to
minutes.
Causes of Tornadoes
Tornadoes are cause by the thunderstorms being extremely large,
unstable and with wind shear in the lower region of the atmosphere.
Instability refers to the hot and humid conditions in the lower
atmosphere and cooler conditions in the upper atmosphere. Due to the
variation in the vapor pressure of hot and cool air, the hot air rises
above and the cool air drops below. Wind shear refers to the changing
of wind direction and wind speed increasing with height.
The formation of tornadoes is followed in a set pattern of simple steps.
Firstly, when the thunderstorm approaches, the wind direction, speed
changes in the upper area of the atmosphere and causes an invisible
horizontal spinning effect in the lower region. Secondly, the horizontal
air is tilted to vertical because of the rising hot air’s updraft. It
eventually forms into a spiral with diameter ranging from 2-6 miles of
rotating air. Thirdly, a rotating wall cloud originating from the center of
the storm (eye of the storm) is formed as the base cloud. This region
is rain-free. Just moments later, a tornado is formed and it starts
revolving around violently at high speeds and cause havoc.
Even weak tornadoes can occur when the wind shear conditions are
strong, but the atmosphere is not very unstable as both instability and
wind shear are necessary for tornado formation. For instance, in
California in the winter when a strong low pressure system comes
along. Similarly, weak tornadoes can occur when the air-mass is very
unstable, but has little wind shear.
Tornadoes are very dangerous and if you are around one, you should
probably take cover and wait. Tornadoes are very exciting to watch
too, but always be safe while watching a tornado as everybody cant be
a storm chaser with all lucky stars!
Tornado Facts
There are a number of facts about tornadoes. The biggest, the
meanest, the longest and of all different kinds. This marvelous yet
destructive beauty of nature can be a site to look at but a chilly
experience to feel. Many people are so crazy with tornadoes that they
want to see it with their own eyes but none of them have been alive to
tell the tale. A tornado is nothing but a giant funnel that is a
fascinating sight to watch. A violent tornado, however, can leave a
mass trail of destruction behind.
Fact 11: Like anything else on this planet, everything that takes birth,
must die, even the tornadoes have a definite lifecycle. They last up to
1-2 hours. The down pouring rainfall drags a rapidly descending region
of air which is known as the rear flank downdraft (RFD). It drags the
super cell’s Meso cyclone (area of organized rotation) to the ground
with it. This RFD, when becomes cool, chokes the tornado, stopping its
power source of warm air and finally dissipates the vortex.
Fact 16: Most tornadoes spin in the cyclonic direction while some
rotate in the anticyclonic direction.
Fact 18: Most tornadoes travel few miles before they exhaust
themselves.
Fact 19: Areas which are prone to tornadoes have basement shelters.
Fact 20: Tornadoes are the fastest winds on the earth and can be and
their rapid rotation often form a visible funnel of condensed water.
Fact 21: Tornadoes can be formed any time throughout the year but a
major number of tornadoes are formed during late April to May.
Fact 22: In the northern parts of USA, the peak session for tornadoes
is much later. This is because it takes longer to warm the northern
parts of the plains and hence the tornadoes form later.
Fact 23: Tornadoes can be detected through weather radar and give
advanced warning.
Fact 24: Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over a body of water.
Fact 25: The United States averages around 1200 tornadoes each
year.
Fact 27: Tornadoes are a work of creation and should always be stir-
cleared away from as you never know how damaging the
consequences can be.
Fact 30: Do not open windows during severe storms as it allows dust
and debris to enter the house.