Tornado

• A tornado is defined by the National

Weather Service (NWS) as "a violently
rotating column of air in contact with
the ground and extending from a
thunderstorm base.
WHAT IS A TORNADO?
 A tornado is a local storm of short duration (usually
5–10 minutes)
• Winds rotating at very high speeds, usually in a
counter-clockwise direction (in the Northern
Hemisphere).
• This storm is visible as a vortex—a whirlpool
structure of winds rotating about a hollow cavity.
• Funnels usually appear as an extension of the dark,
heavy cumulonimbus clouds of thunderstorms, and
stretch downward toward the ground.
• Some never reach the surface; others touch and rise
again. Air surrounding the funnel is also part of the
tornado vortex. As the storm moves along the
ground, this outer ring of rotating winds becomes
dark with dust and debris, which may eventually
darken the entire funnel.
Usually tornadoes form at intervals along its
path, travel for a few miles, then dissipate. The
forward speed of tornadoes has been observed
to range from almost no motion to 70 mph.
HOW A TORNADO IS FORMED

• Tornado formation requires the presence of layers of

air with contrasting characteristics of temperature,
moisture, density, and wind flow.

• Tornadoes are produced by the combined effects of

thermal and mechanical forces, with one or the other
force being the stronger generating agent.
Different types of tornados
• Wedge tornado" is straight on the sides
not funnel shaped and has a wide damage
path. It's usually wide.
• “Supercells“ are tornadoes that are the
largest and most dangerous.
• “Narrow vortex” is a rapidly rotating
column of air that develops in a violent
thunderstorm. When a “narrow vortex
reaches the ground it is called a tornado.
Other names for
tornados are

• Twister
• Wind Vortex
• Water spout
• Cyclone
A funnel cloud

A funnel cloud
Waterspout
waterspout is a tornado over water. Although most
tornadoes over land are associated with severe
thunderstorms, the National Weather Service in the
United States considers all waterspouts—including
"fair weather" waterspouts—to be tornadoes. These
less-severe relatives of classic tornadoes are almost
always weak (F0 or F1 on the Fujita Scale), and
spawn from non-rotating thunderstorms, or even
regular summer showers. Typically, waterspouts
moving onto land cause little or no damage, and
dissipate within minutes. However, strong
waterspouts from supercells can cause significant
damage if they impact land areas. In addition, strong
tornadoes can move over lakes or over the ocean,
becoming waterspouts, without losing intensity.
A landspout is an unofficial term for a tornado not
associated with a mesocyclone. Known officially
as a dust-tube tornado, it is usually weak,
features a small condensation funnel which
often does not appear to reach the ground, and
is often marked by a tall tube of dust and/or
debris reaching as far up as the parent cloud.
Though usually weaker than classic tornadoes,
they are tornadoes, and can cause serious
damage
A gustnado is a small, vertical swirl
associated with a gust front or downburst.
Because they are technically not
associated with the cloud base, there is
some debate as to whether or not
gustnadoes are actually tornadoes. These
usually cause localized areas of heavier
damage among areas of straight-line wind
damage caused by the gust front.
A dust devil is also a vertical swirling column
of air. These phenomena resemble
tornadoes, but are rarely as strong as
even the weakest tornadoes, and tend to
form under clear skies. Dust devils are not
considered tornadoes because they form
during fair weather, and are not associated
with thunderstorms. However, they can, on
occasion, result in major damage and
fatalities, especially in arid areas
SIZE, SPEED, & DURATION
Tornadoes vary greatly in size, intensity, and appearance. Most
(69%) of the tornadoes that occur each year fall into the
"weak" category. Wind speeds are in the range of 110 mph or
less. Weak tornadoes account for less than 5% of all tornado
deaths.
About one out of every three tornadoes (29%) is classified as
"strong." Strong tornadoes have wind speeds reaching about
205 mph, with an average path length of 9 mi, and a path width
of 200 yd. Almost 30% of all tornado deaths occur each year
from this type of storm. Nearly 70% of all tornado fatalities,
however, result from "violent" tornadoes. Although very rare
(only about 2% are violent), these extreme tornadoes can last
for hours. Average path lengths and widths are 26 mi and 425
yd, respectively. The largest of these may exceed a mile or
more in width, with wind speeds approaching 300 mph.
The winds of some tornadoes have been estimated to exceed 300 mph.
(Photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library;
OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).)
Tornado Characteristics
• Time of day during which tornadoes are
most likely to occur is mid-afternoon,
generally 3–7 P.M., but they have
occurred at all times of day.
• Direction of movement is usually from
southwest to northeast. (Note: Tornadoes
associated with hurricanes may move from
an easterly direction.)
• Length of path averages 4 mi, but may reach
300 mi. A tornado traveled 293 mi across
Illinois and Indiana on May 26, 1917, and
lasted seven hours and 20 minutes.

• Width of path averages about 300–400 yd but

tornadoes have cut paths a mile or more in
width.

• Speed of travel averages 25–40 mph, but

speeds ranging from stationary to 68 mph
have been reported.
 Tornado Intensity Rating System
The intensity of tornadoes is defined according to the Fujita Scale (or F
scale), which ranges from F0 to F6 as outlined below.
F0: 40–72 mph winds. Damage is light and might include damage to tree
branches, chimneys, and billboards. Shallow-rooted trees may be pushed
over.
F1: 73–112 mph winds. Damage is moderate; mobile homes may be
pushed off foundations and moving autos pushed off the road.
F2: 113–157 mph winds. Damage is considerable. Roofs can be torn off
houses, mobile homes demolished, and large trees uprooted.
F3: 158–206 mph winds. Damage is severe. Even well-constructed
houses may be torn apart, trees uprooted, and cars lifted off the ground.
F4: 207–260 mph winds. Damage is devastating. Houses can be leveled
and cars thrown; objects become deadly missiles.
F5: 261–318 mph winds. Damage is incredible. Structures are lifted off
foundations and carried away; cars become missiles. Fewer than 2% of
all tornadoes reach an intensity of this magnitude.
F6: The maximum tornado wind speeds are not expected to exceed 318
mph.
 • WHERE DO TORNADOES OCCUR?

Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world and in all 50

states. But no area is more favorable to their formation
than the continental plains of North America. The term
"Tornado Alley" is sometimes used to identify this section
of the United States—a section in which more tornadoes
strike than in any other place in the world. This broad
band begins in Texas and covers many states northward
including Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Ohio.
Tornado in India

• New Delhi, Tornado of March 17, 1978

National Capital Region, India
28 fatalities, 700 injuries

• Orissa, Tornado April 10 1978

150 fatalities
Safety Measures
• Safety disaster supplies to keep on hand:
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Portable, battery-operated radio and extra
batteries
• First aid kit and manual
• Emergency food and water
• Non-electric can opener
• Essential medicines
• Cash and credit cards
• Sturdy shoes
Develop an emergency communication plan If
home
• Go at once to a windowless, interior room; storm
cellar; basement; or lowest level of the building.
• If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a
smaller inner room without windows, such as a
bathroom or closet.
• Get away from the windows.
• Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners
because they tend to attract debris.
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a
workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• If you are in a mobile home, get out and find shelter
elsewhere
If outdoors:
• If possible, get inside a building.
• If shelter is not available or there is no
time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-
lying area or crouch near a strong building.
Be aware of the potential for flooding.
• Use your arms to protect your head and
neck.
If in a car:
• Never try to out drive a tornado in a car or
truck. Tornadoes can change direction
quickly and can lift up a car or truck and
toss it through the air.
• Get out of the car immediately and take
shelter in a nearby building.
• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of
the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area
away from the vehicle. Be aware of the
potential for flooding.
AVALANCHES
Snow cover on a slope tends to slide down
the slope because of gravity. Conditions
affecting stability include the gravitational
force component of the snow and resisting
forces, such as the frictional resistance of
the slope or the anchoring effect of shrubs.
In general, avalanches are caused when
this balance is lost and when the forces
exceed the resistance. Avalanches are
rarely observed closely since they
normally occur during a short time period
of one or two minutes.
Major Causes –
Major causes of avalanches can be
classified into fixed (prime factors) and
variable factors (exciting factors), such as
weather conditions and the weight of the
snow cover, Avalanches occur when these
factors are combined. The types and scale
of avalanches can differ depending on the
combination of these various factors and
their scale.
a)Primary Factor
 Item Description Factor
• Inclination of slope
• Shape of slope
Topographic factors • Location (ridge line or toe of
slope)
Prime factors • Orientation of slope
• Vegetation cover and height of
trees
Vegetation factors
• Vegetation cover and its
thickness
• Depth of snow cover
• Depth of snowfall
Weather factors • Wind velocity
• Atmospheric and snow
temperatures
Exciting factor
• Increase in weight of snow cover
because of snow dropping from
Other factors cornices or snow covers
• Vibrations such as earthquake
or the sound of gunfire
 Factors Used for classification of Avalanches

Classification Factor Classification Factor Definition

Avalanches that flow
rapidly, spreading
Loose snow avalanche
widely from a point
normally small in scale
Type of occurrence
Avalanches that start to
move suddenly over
Slab avalanche
wide areas, normally
large in scale.
Avalanches that contain no
Dry snow avalanche
water.
Type of snow
Avalanches that contain
Wet snow avalanche
water.
Slip surface exists within
Surface layer avalanche
the snow cover
Surface layer avalanche
Slip surface occurs on the
Full- depth avalanche
ground surface
Loose Snow of Avalanches
Slab Snow Avalanche
Weak Snow Pack
Types of Damage
The following lists typical examples of damage
to roads caused by avalanches. The scale of
damage can differ depending on the scale and
type of avalanche.
• Traffic blocked by snow deposited on road
surface.
• Roads damaged by avalanches.
• Road structures, such as retaining walls,
overturned.
• Structures damaged by an avalanche during
construction of roads occur most frequently.
Estimation of Hazardous Slopes
The following actions are appropriate when
avalanche hazard prone slopes are identified;
• Advise residents of avalanche risk areas using
published maps.
• A forestation programme for areas where there
is risk of avalanches.
• Trap avalanches by control measures.
• Dispose avalanche potential snow packs by
artificial triggering.
• Predict occurrence of avalanches through
stability analysis and issue warnings as and
when necessary.
• Guide residents to emergency evacuation
shelters.
Avalanches zones

There are three types of snow avalanches

zones;
• Red Zone - The most dangerous zone where
snow avalanches are most frequent and have an
impact pressure of more than 3 tonnes per
square metre.
• Blue Zone - Where the avalanche force is less
than 3 tonnes per square metre and where living
and other activities may be permitted with
connection of safe design but such areas may
have to be vacated on warning.
• Yellow Zone - Where snow avalanche occur only
occasionally.
Avalanches Prone Areas in India
The Himalayas are well known for the
occurrence of snow avalanches
particularly Western Himalayas I .e. the
snowy regions of Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar
Pradesh.
• Jammu and Kashmir - Higher reaches of
Kashmir and Gurez valleys, Kargil and
Ladakh and some of the major roads
• Himachal Pradesh - Chamba, Kullu- Spiti
and Kinnaur vulnerable areas
• Uttaranchal - Parts of Tehri Garhwal and
Chamoli districts are vulnerable areas.
Avalanches Control Measures
Types of control measures – Avalanche control
measures can roughly be classified into
hardware and software types. Hardware
measures are for the purpose of preventing
avalanches or for blocking or deflecting
avalanches with protective structures. Software
measures provide safety by eliminating the
probability of avalanches by remaining snow
deposit or slope with blasting and by predicting
the occurrence of avalanches and
recommending evacuation from hazardous
areas.
Preventive Structure

Planting (Avalanche Prevention Forest):

Stepped Terraces
Avalanches Control Piles
Avalanche Control Fence
Suspended Fence
Snow Cornice Control Structures
Protection Structures

• Protecting Fences
• Retaining Walls
• Deflecting Structures
• Snow Sheds
• Retarding Structure
Other Control Measures

• Prediction and Forecasting

• Disposal of Avalanches Potential Snow Packs
 Volcanoes
Volcanoes are mountains with lava that
are really hot. It could kill you.
What IS A VOLCANO?
• Volcanoes are the landforms created
when magma (molten rock) escapes in an
opening (Vents) and include any deposits
immediately surrounding the vent.
• Volcanism is the geologic process that
results in the expulsion of magma at the
Earth’s surface
• Volcanic type and location is related to
Plate boundaries (tectonic activity)
It is so hot that it melts the rock and
becomes magma.
What Causes Volcanism?

Magma Eruptions are dependent upon:

• Amount of Pressure
• Viscosity of the Magma
• Viscosity of magma is dependent upon:
➢ Silica Content (SiO2)
➢ Temperature
• High silica magmas
(rhyolite, granite) are
very viscous and erupt
explosively
• Low silica magmas
(basalt) have low
viscosity and erupt
effusively
• More Silica = More
Viscous
• Higher temperature
lavas are less viscous
than lower temperature
What kinds of volcanoes are there?
1. Cinder cone: they have cones and their lava are thick and
sticky also it can’t go far.
2. Composite: they are made by ashes (rocks and dried lava).
They are less explosive.
3. Under water: The lava travels through the water and lava
and ash begins to build up.
4. Shield: They have very thick lava, and they are located near
they ocean shores. The lavas come out from cracks
of the Earth.
5. Active volcano: It erupts a lot and has a lot records from
history about it erupting.
6. Dormant volcano: It is active also, but sleeps a lot and is
expected to erupt in the future.
7 Extinct volcano: It is counted as a dead volcano.
Shield

The least destructive and

least explosive volcanoes
are shield volcanoes.
These volcanoes made
the Hawaiian Islands.
They form along the coast
of the oceans
Strato / Composite

A strato volcano is the next

least powerful. They are
formed by hot rocks, some
ash, and last lava. They are
taller and more active than
all shield volcanoes. Some
examples are Mt. Fuji, Mt.
Rainer, Mt. Hood, Mt.
Shasta
Composite:
A volcano built of alternating layers of cinders and lava
Cinder cone
Cinder cone volcanoes are
the most powerful and
active volcanoes, with high
silica content.This kind of
volcano shoots out a single
tube. Some cinder cone
volcanoes are unsetCrater,
Paricutin, and Krakatoa .
Why Volcanoes Exist
Earth's interior is hot, very hot.
Remember? The natural laws of the
universe dictate that,given the opportunity,
energy will move from an area of higher
temperature to an area of lower
temperature. So since it is hotter inside the
Earth than outside, thermal energy is
transferred "outward" by an avenue we
call volcanoes. In other words, volcanoes
exist to transfer energy from the interior of
the Earth to the exterior.
How Volcanoes Transfer Energy

Hot, molten rock we call magma

(asthensophere) is less dense than the
surrounding rock so it rises toward the surface
(lithosphere). If it breaks through to the surface,
we call the material lava. Hot gases and water
vapor escape and energy is transferred via
radiation and conduction. Thus, the Earth
"cools". Where magma erupts through the
surface, we say a volcano has formed. (Be
careful! Some large volcanoes have many vents,
many with names we associate with volcanoes.)
What is found in a Volcano
The outside of a volcano is composed of
two basic materials. These are extruded
lava flows and volcanic ash or tephra. The
sides of the volcanoes may be steep or
form very shallow slopes. Different types
of volcanoes produce different types of
lavas and ashes. All release gases into the
atmosphere.
 Volcano Precautions:Safety Tips

• If you are in an area that may be affected by volcanic ash

fallout, take these preventative measures:
• Have a supply of filter masks to protect the nose and mouth
and goggles to protect the eyes.
• Keep a 3-day supply of canned food and bottled water on
hand, as severe fallout may hamper local travel.
• Close all doors, windows and vents around the house.
Temporarily cover roof vents and air conditioning intakes
during periods of ash fall. Place towels under doors and in
other gaps.
• Cover air intakes and vent openings on all motorized
electronic appliances, stereo components, and computers.
Shut down and discontinue use of these appliances until ash
fall has stopped and appropriate cleaning has occurred.
• Cover boats and recreational vehicles.
Protect your property after a Volcano
For vehicles:

• Remove ash from your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Prolonged exposure to volcanic ash and dust can damage the
paint and glass.
• Carefully wash the ash from your vehicle with a stream of water
from a garden hose. Volcanic ash is very abrasive and can
easily scratch your vehicle.
• Never wipe, brush or mop the ash or dust that accumulates on
your vehicle or windows.
• Avoid prolonged driving in airborne or accumulated volcanic
ash. Volcanic ash or dust can cause severe damage to your
engine.
• If your vehicle is exposed to volcanic ash, change your air filter
and have your vehicle checked by a qualified auto mechanic as
soon as possible.
• Avoid using windshield wipers if at all possible as glass
scratching may occur. Replace any windshield wiper blades
that are damaged from the effects of the fallout.
For your home and belongings:

• Remove ash and dust from the roof of your home as soon as it
is safe to do so. Ash is heavy and can cause damage to your
roof or gutters if allowed to accumulate.
• When cleaning ash from a roof, plug drain holes in the gutter
and disconnect the downspout. Sweep the ash off the roof with
a broom.
• Avoid using electronic devices where there is still airborne ash,
as it can short circuit electronics.
• Don't wash ash down drains.
• Once airborne ash has completely cleared, ash should be
vacuumed, not wiped, to prevent scratching on surfaces like
porcelain, enamel, glass, painted surfaces and appliances. A
damp cloth may be used after initial vacuuming.
• Change vacuum filters frequently, and be careful your vacuum
is not redistributing ash through the air discharge.
• Clothing exposed to ash should be shaken out and put through
a rinse and pre-soak cycle before machine washing. Use extra
detergent. Laundry additives can help adjust the pH level and
make detergents more effective.
THANKS