Tornado Latest News
Recently, over 20 people have died in the southern United States due to severe storms and tornado outbreaks affecting Missouri and Kentucky.
What is a Tornado?
- A tornado is a vertical, land-based column of violently rotating air that forms from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.
- It is characterised by a rapid cyclonic circulation and is often seen as a cloud-filled condensation funnel extending from the sky to the ground.
- In cases of low humidity, the tornado may not form a visible funnel and may appear only as a swirl of dust or debris near the ground.
- When such a rotating column of air forms over a water body, it is known as a waterspout.
Wind Speeds and Movement
- Tornadoes typically exhibit wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 km/h, but some extreme events can exceed this range.
- They can be stationary or move at high speeds, often advancing at around 97 km/h across the landscape.
- The sheer speed and intensity of the winds make tornadoes one of the most destructive natural phenomena on land.
Mechanism of Formation
- Tornado formation is closely linked to interactions between contrasting air masses.
- A collision of warm, moist air (usually from tropical regions) with cool, dry air (typically from polar or upper regions), especially in the presence of a low-pressure system or trough, leads to the formation of thunderstorms and may trigger tornadoes.
- Cyclonic circulations and atmospheric instability further contribute to the rotational dynamics needed for tornado development.
- Geographical distribution: Tornadoes occur most commonly in mid-latitude regions (between 20° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres) where cold polar air meets warm tropical air, producing frequent thunderstorm activity.
- The United States experiences the highest frequency of tornadoes globally, particularly in the region known as “Tornado Alley”.
- Other countries prone to tornado occurrences include Argentina and Bangladesh, which also lie in the tropical-midlatitude interaction zones.
- Measurement: The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to classify the strength of tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and associated damage levels.
- The scale ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), with EF5 tornadoes being catastrophically destructive, often flattening buildings and uprooting trees.
Tornado FAQs
Q1: What is a tornado?
Ans: A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, often forming a visible funnel-shaped cloud.
Q2: In which region are tornadoes most common?
Ans: Tornadoes are most frequent in the United States, especially in "Tornado Alley", which includes states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Q3: What scale is used to measure tornado intensity?
Ans: Tornadoes are classified using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which ranges from EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed and damage caused.
Source: DW
