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Tornado formation and structure
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Tornadoes can move up to 70 mph and can shift directions inconsistently without any warning. The Waco tornado in 1953 was a great destruction to Waco, Texas. Tornadoes can cause great amounts of destruction, and bring havoc to many cities and states. Furthermore, there are many causes of tornadoes. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm, but a tornado is not actually labeled a tornado until it reaches the surface of the ground. Before a tornado occurs, a very severe thunderstorm will more than likely present itself. Before the grave thunderstorm arises, a wall cloud will form in the sky. A wall cloud is an abrupt lowering of a rain-free cumulonimbus base into a low-hanging cloud. A wall cloud is usually situated in the southwest portion of the storm. A rotating wall cloud usually …show more content…
develops before tornadoes or funnel clouds. A funnel cloud is a very good source to help predict that a tornado is on its way, and generally comes after a wall cloud. A funnel cloud is a rotating cone-shape column of air extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm, but not touching the ground (Wicker, 2015). A greenish sky or clouds, are said to be a warning of a very disastrous thunderstorm, and that is the kind of storm that may produce tornadoes (Hernandez, 2014). In order for such thunderstorm to occur, low level moisture is a necessity to contribute to the development of it (Wicker, 2015). Namely, the Waco Tornado of Waco, Texas, caused great destruction on May 11th 1953.
The catastrophic tornado had started in the very southwest of Waco through residential areas. It then began its whirling way to the downtown of Waco, Texas. The entire town was torn apart. The cost of the damage was very high. Though estimates vary, approximately $51 million dollars of property damage occurred. The tornado did not only harm the property of Waco, but also caused many deaths and injuries. It had taken 114 lives of men, women, and even children. It also injured over 600 people. Although the tornado caused a great amount of damage to businesses, families, and the entire town, it had a huge impact on the entire Waco population. It brought the entire community together to strengthen Waco again. The town received money from a couple of places to join the strengthening. Waco received nine million dollars in order to aid recovery. They also acquired federal assistance, a grant from the Red Cross, and private donations collected by local civic leaders. That was greatly appreciated, and Waco citizens were truly thankful (Sawyer,
2016). Finally, there are many warning systems, radars, or science technology to notify people earlier, and proper protection is a very important part of surviving a tornado. One way tornadoes are detected is by using a Doppler radar. It can measure if rain or hail is moving toward or away from the radar (Wicker, 2015). They are a very great help on helping detect a tornado. There are also tornado sirens that go off in some towns and cities. There is also another tool used to help detect the coming of a tornado called the NOAA All-Weather Radio. It is basically a weather radio. A weather radio is particularly important for anyone living in a community that does not have any storm warning sirens. All - Weather Radios broadcast National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other threatening information 24 hours a day (Missouri State Officials, N.D.). Another good way of knowing there is a chance of a tornado is local news channels should have warnings up where the possible tornado might end up. Warnings usually indicate looking for protection. Preparing in advance is a good idea. When knowing a tornado is possibly in an area close by, it is best to seek shelter almost immediately. Underground in a basement or cellar is the best option on staying safe during a tornado. If there is no basement or cellar accessible, a room with no windows is the second best option. Tornadoes usually go very quickly only lasting up to ten minutes, so storing a lot of food is not necessary. Stay in the low part of a home and it is said to go to the center of the room in order to be the most protected. Going underneath a sturdy piece of furniture is also another good idea. A sturdy table is an example (Hernandez, 2014). It is highly recommended to use arms to protect the head and neck. To be sure everyone in the household knows exactly what to do, it is smart to have repeated practice doing tornado drills. These drills should be made to educate on everyone in the house on what to do and where to go if any type of tornado warning is displayed. If an advanced warning of a strong storm is coming in to an area near, it is smart to secure or lock up anything that could be pulled away during the storm. Things like trash bins, lawn furniture, children toys, and more. It is a good idea to keep all trees trimmed and remove any dead, dying or diseased limbs. They could easily break off in powerful winds, and cause a great amount of damage to structures around. While the storm is arising keep the NOAA Weather Radio close by. This can help stay informed on where the storm is, and hear any tornado warnings or watches. Knowing the difference between a tornado warning and a tornado watch is crucial. A tornado watch means that conditions are suitable for the formation of a tornado within an area or region. When a tornado watch is active in an area near, make sure to be alert and ready to seek immediate shelter if a tornado develops. A tornado warning just means that a funnel cloud has been spotted or that a weather radar has detected a possible formation of a tornado. A tornado warning indicates to seek shelter immediately (TornadoFacts.net, 2016). In conclusion, the Waco tornado was recognized as the deadliest tornado since the 1900’s (Sawyer, 2016). The destructive tornado evidently brought the town together. Tornadoes can cause destruction to not only property, but to families and communities that are also being impacted. Tornadoes are something to take into much consideration and always be prepared. Be educated on the preparation, the forming of a tornado, and safety precautions to follow. The Waco tornado occurred on May 11th 1953 causing havoc in Waco, Texas (Sawyer, 2016). Tornadoes are very dangerous and can cause a great amount of destruction.
On May 22nd, 2011 a massive tornado hit Joplin, Missouri killing 162 people and injuring 1150. With wind speeds of 322km/h, the tornado made a total cost of over $2 billion for the city. 8000 structures were destroyed, 2000 of which were homes. Many people were left homeless. The tornado held an incredible EF5 rating on the Fujita scale, measured from the amount of destruction. The tragic event lasted 38 minutes, from 5:34 pm to 6:12pm. Cool wind from the Rockies in Canada and warm wind from the gulf of Mexico formed into a supercell thunderstorm creating a tornado in Kansas. The tornado rapidly moved into Joplin and continued on its 35 km path.
Tornadoes are “violent windstorms that take the form of a rotating column of air or vortex that extends downward from a cumulonimbus cloud” as Tarbuck and Lutgens (2012) explain.
What is a tornado? A tornado is “a rapidly rotating vortex or funnel of air extending groundward from a cumulonimbus cloud.” (Haddow et al) Tornadoes produce destructive winds that can destroy everything that comes in its path. Meteorologists use the speed of the winds to classify the strength of tornadoes on the Fujita-Pearson scale. The weakest tornadoes, F0, have wind speeds from 65-85 miles per hour, all the way to an F5 tornado, with winds in excess of 200 miles per hour.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), (2001). U.S. Tornado Climatology. Accessed on 9//27/2011 at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html#deadly
According to Ahrens (2009), a tornado is defined as, “A rapidly spinning column of air that blows around a small area of intense low pressure coming from the base of a thunderstorm to the earth’s surface” (p. 394). Tornadoes can form in one of two ways either through a supercell thunderstorm or through a nonsupercell thunderstorm (Ahrens, 2009). A supercell thunderstorm forms when the ground grows warmer in spring and summer and the air further above the ground is cold (Ahrens, 2009). Warm air near the surface rises, as it cools the water vapor it carries condenses forming cumulus clouds and eventually form into cumulonimbus clouds (Ahrens, 2009). Winds near the surface blow in one direction while the winds further up blow in another; the difference creates a horizontally rotating mass of air (Ahrens, 2009). Rising warm air pushes the horizontally rotating air upright therefore, creating a mesocyclone which usually extends 2-6 miles in width (Nation Severe Storms Laboratory [NSSL], 1992). These rotating updrafts define a supercell thunderstorm and set the stage for possible tornadoes (Ahrens, 2009).
I would like to start out by what we know about tornados and outbreaks, and what is said to be the cause of such catastrophic events, such as the outbreak that occurred November 17th in the Midwestern, portion of the United States. Tornado outbreaks occur when there are multiple tornados that are said to be produced by the same weather system. The classification of an outbreak can vary depending on interpretation. It is said that in order to be classified as a “tornado outbreak” there must be a certain number of tornados that touch down. It is said that the US has the most tornados of any country. This can be attributed the location with in the mid latitude. The Rocky Mountains, have the ability to block moisture and “buckle” the atmospheric flow; thus forcing a lot of dry air at mid-levels of the troposphere, due to downslope winds. While the Rockies are forming a “dry-line” the Gulf of Mexico on the other hand contributes a lot of low level moisture. This mixture of warm air and cold air is to blame for the large number of tornados that form in the US. These events are most prevalent in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States, along with the Great Plains also known as (tornado alley) although some of these systems have been known to move as far North as Canada. The tornado outbreak that took place on the 17th of November is said to have been the one of the largest outbreaks to have occurred in eight years. This particular storm spawned a total of 72 tornados that swept through seven states, according to the National Weather Service. This outbreak is being considered the fourth largest outbreak of its kind, especially this time of year.
Tornadoes are powerful and destructive phenomena created in strong thunderstorms. Tornadoes are most common in the United States, and in the U.S., they are common in an area called Tornado Alley. Every year, tornadoes wreak havoc on the countryside, towns, and even cities. The deadliest tornado in U.S. history crossed over three states, destroyed 15,000 homes, and killed almost 700 people. There are only a couple of people on record that claim to have been in and seen the center of a tornado and lived. Tornadoes even have their own rating scale, based on their wind and damage level.Tornadoes are powerful vortexes created in thunderstorms, are common in the U.S., have its own rating scale, have only been seen on the inside a few times, have the potential to demolish towns, and can take lives.
How are tornadoes created? Tornadoes are the result of an extremely large storm called a supercell. A supercell is a storm that has the presence of a mesocyclone. A mesocyclone possesses a deep, persistently rotating updraft. These storms are also referred to as rotating thunderstorms. There are five classifications of thunderstorms: supercell, squall line, multi-cell, and single-cell.
A tornado requires some basic ingredients to come together. First, energy in the form of warm, moist air must exist to feed thunder storms. Second, there must be a top layer of hot, dry air called a cap. This air acts like a lid on a simmering pot, holding in the warm air that’s accumulating in the atmosphere below until the storm’s ready to burst. Last, there has to be rotating winds speeding in oppositedirections at two different levels in the atmosphere, a phenomenon called wind shear, can cause the storms to rotate. Tornado alley is perfectly situated to meet these requirements. (1)
For centuries, tornadoes have been a destructive force of nature that possesses the power to destroy cities and take people’s lives. Recently, a new epidemic of tornadoes has been ravaging America. Which raises the question, is global warming to blame? With up to 300 miles per hour winds and damage paths that can go up to one mile wide and 50 miles long, they truly are Mother Nature’s weapon of mass destruction. Tornadoes are typically formed during a front of stormy weather known as a supercell, although not always.
Tornadoes can form anywhere given the right weather conditions. There have been some tornadoes spotted going up and down a mountain. Most tornadoes form in Tornado Alley, which is the Great Plains of America, which includes: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, holds the record for being hit by the most tornadoes in the world. In Greensburg, Kansas, there was a massive tornado that hit. It was said to be two miles wide, but here’s the words of a man, Dan Barry, who lived to tell his story. “Yes, a tornado nearly two miles wide really did mow through here one night last month. It really did kill ten of the 1,450 residents. It really did destroy just about every house, business, and church, as though determined to erase Gr...
Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the earth’s surface. They are sometimes nicknamed twisters because of their shape and because of what they do. The winds in the tornadoes are usually 100mph or less. In +F4's they can exceed 250mph. They usually stay on a track of a few miles or less and are less than 100 yds. wide. For the development of tornadoes there are a few conditions required. An abundant low-level of moisture and unstable atmosphere is required not only for the tornado, but for a thunderstorm also. A “trigger”, which is a cold front or low level zone of converging winds, is needed to lift the moisture and the air. When the air rises , it becomes saturated and continue to rise higher and higher. They then form in areas where winds at all levels of the atmosphere are strong and turn clockwise with height.Some tornadoes appear as a funnel shape and some have a churning smoky look . Some contain multiple vortices , which are small individual tornadoes rotating around a common center. Some can be invisible , with only swirling dust or debris at ground level as the only indication of the tornado’s presence. Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, and anywhere in the world. The unique geography of the US is what helps us produce some of the most violent tornadoes because of the favorable condition’s for their development . The months with the greatest amount of tornadoes are April, May and June .
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes can produce massive destruction with wind speeds of 250 miles per hour or more. The typical tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but they have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 miles per hour but it may vary from stationary to 70 miles per hour. Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are found most frequently in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries.