Tornadoes!

by Adithya and Chia-Hsuan 7/C

What are Tornadoes?

Tornadoes are strong and destructive rotating vertical funnels of wind that touches both the ground and a cumulonimbus (storm) cloud. They can also be referred to as twisters.

Characteristics of Tornados
Tornadoes can be different shapes, size, and color depending on what environment it is formed. Most tornadoes wind speed are less than 110 mph and are about 250 feet in length across. The most extreme and destructive tornadoes can have wind speeds up to 300 mph and their diameter stretch 2 miles across. Some tornadoes can be completely obscured by rain, dust, and debris. Tornadoes like these are very dangerous, since you cant see them clearly.

How does a Tornado Form?

A supercell thunderstorm needs to be present. Then, as a mesocyclone lowers below the clouds base, warm air and cool air start circulating, making low pressure, which creates a vertical funnel. Then, the funnel descends and makes contact with the ground. The tornado is invisible up until this point, and then it starts kicking up debris. Tornadoes can also form inside hurricanes.

Multiple Varieties of Tornadoes:

Landspout: A tornado that doesnt form under a supercell thunderstorm. Multiple Vortex Tornado: Contains funnels that are substructures around the main vortex. Waterspout: A tornado attached to a cumuliform cloud that forms over water.

When/Where does it Commonly Form?

Tornadoes can happen in any time of the year. The Tornado Alley in the U.S.A. include parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and western Iowa. Outside the U.S.A., tornadoes form in south-central and eastern Asia, southern South America, Southern Africa,northwestern and southeast Europe, western Australia, and New Zealand.

How is it measured?
Tornadoes are measured using the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF) from a scale of 0 - 5, with EF0 being the least destructive and EF5 being the most destructive. [Before 2007, the Fujita (F) Scale was used.] Another rarely used scale is the TORRO (T) Scale, which measures from 0 to 11, with T0 being the least destructive and T11 being the most destructive.

The Impact of a Tornado: Humans

Tornadoes destroy the infrastructure of our city by causing fires, damaging power lines, causing gas leaks, felling trees, and toss the debris they pick up everywhere. They can also cause water contamination.

The Impact of a Tornado: Environment

The tornado changes Habitats - They fell and uproot trees and other plants, and kill animals. Landforms - The whole topography is changed. Food webs - When the animals die, food shortages/famines occur within an ecosystem.

How to Prepare Yourself for a Tornado

Every family should have a kit for disaster preparedness made for a tornado. The FEMA states that the kit should include items that are needed to shelter and survive for tornado impact up to 72 hours.

Tornado Kit
The kit should include: a gallon of water per person, long-lasting food and can-opener, flashlights and batteries, dust mask for every person in the family, hand wipes and garbage bags, first aid kit and first aid book, documents such as identification, cash and coins, hygiene items, change of clothing and shoes, and pencils and books.

Tornado Safety
When the N.O.A.A. puts out a tornado alert or warning, it is safe to go to a basement or a small room such as a closet. In advance, it is a good idea to pack the kit of food and supplies. Some communities have underground shelters. Remember, your life is more important than your possessions! If you are outside or in a car, park your vehicle on the side of the road and find a ditch or a dip and lie

Record-Breaking Tornadoes:
- Tornado for longest path length, longest duration, and fastest forward wind speed: the Tri-State Tornado (March 18, 1925), which flew through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana and killed 695 people. - The deadliest tornado in world history was the Daultipur-Salturia Tornado in Bangladesh (April 26, 1989) and killed approximately 1,300 people.

Important Side-Note: TORNADOES ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS STORMS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. SO BE PREPARED!!!