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  • How Does A Tornado Work

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    e0nealiff
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    A tornado forms within a thunderstorm as rising air tilts any existing horizontal rotation in the lower atmosphere to become vertical. This creates a rotating column of air extending through the storm. Interactions between air currents of different temperatures and humidities intensify the rotation, forming a mesocyclone. A tornado may develop below the mesocyclone, narrowing the spinning column and increasing its rotation and height.

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    How Does a Tornado Work_

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    How Does a Tornado Work

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    A tornado forms within a thunderstorm as rising air tilts any existing horizontal rotation in the lower atmosphere to become vertical. This creates a rotating column of air extending through the storm. Interactions between air currents of different temperatures and humidities intensify the rotation, forming a mesocyclone. A tornado may develop below the mesocyclone, narrowing the spinning column and increasing its rotation and height.

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    21 views2 pages

    How Does A Tornado Work

    Uploaded by

    e0nealiff
    A tornado forms within a thunderstorm as rising air tilts any existing horizontal rotation in the lower atmosphere to become vertical. This creates a rotating column of air extending through the storm. Interactions between air currents of different temperatures and humidities intensify the rotation, forming a mesocyclone. A tornado may develop below the mesocyclone, narrowing the spinning column and increasing its rotation and height.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    HowdoesaTornadoWork?

    ProjectImpact
    HowaTornadoWorks

    Beforethunderstormsdevelop,a
    changeinwinddirectionandan
    increaseinwindspeedwith
    increasingheightcreatesan
    invisible,horizontalspinningeffectin
    theloweratmosphere.

    Risingairwithinthethunderstorm
    updrafttiltstherotatingairfrom
    horizontaltovertical.

    Anareaofrotation,26mileswide,
    nowextendsthroughmuchofthe
    storm.Moststrongandviolent
    tornadoesformwithinthisareaof
    strongrotation.

    1. Alarge,thermallystratifiedsituationdevelopsintheatmosphere,withplentyofhot,humidair
    trappedbeneathcold,dryair.
    2. Forsomereason,the"cap,"(thestablelayerofairbetweenthehotandcoldair)isdisturbed.The
    disturbancecanbecausedbyanupperlevelairdisturbance,orthearrivalofafront(defined).
    3. Asthelowerlevelairrises,itexpandsinthereducedairpressurealoft(airpressuredropsas
    altitudeincreases),anditcools.Eventually,thecoolingcausesthemoisturetocondense(defined).
    4. Condensationreleaseslatentheat,warmingtheair,makingitbuoyant,andcausingittorise
    quickly(atspeedsupto150mph).Bynow,thecloudhasformedintoathunderstorm.Upperlevel
    windstiltthethunderheadtocreatetheanvilatthetop.
    5. Thethunderstormmaydieoutinintenserainand/orhall.Oritmayspawnatornado.
    6. Interactionsbetweenairatvariousaltitudes,humiditiesandtemperaturescausesrain,lightning,air
    circulationandanintensificationoftherotatingupdraft,calleda"mesocyclone."Lowlevelwind
    helpscausethisrotation,whichisalmostalwayscounterclockwise(seenfromabove)inthe
    NorthernHemisphere.
    7. Atornadomayformbelowthemesocyclone.Asthespinningcolumnofairnarrows,itrotates
    fasterandextendshigherintothestorm.

    TwisterinaBottle!
    HowtoMakeaHomemadeTornado
    Youcancreateatornadoofyourownquiteeasily.Herearetworecipes.

    Method1:Taketwo2litersodabottles,fillonewithwater,andpurchase
    anitemcalledaTornadoTube.Thetubeconnectsthebottlessothatoneis
    upsidedown.(Ifyoudon'twanttobuyatornadotube,justusegoodold
    fashionedducttape.)Simplyturnthebottlewithwatertothetop,givethe
    bottlesatwist,andavortex(arotatingcirculation)willflowintothelower
    bottle.

    Method2:Youcanalsomakeavortexbyfillingamayonnaiseor
    canningjaraboutthreequartersfull.Addfoodcoloringtowater,
    alongwithateaspoonofliquiddishwashingdetergentanda
    teaspoonofvinegar.Tightenthelid,shakethejarvigorously,and
    thengiveitagoodtwist.Theliquidwillformavortexthatlookslike
    asmalltornado.Itwillevenlengthenandthenretreatlikeareal
    tornado.

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