Tornado presentation

TORNADOES Veronica Castro

WHAT IS A TORNADO? The literal definition of a tornado is: “a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating

winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.”

In other words, a tornado is a funnel shaped cloud that comes to shape after a thunderstorm and fast winds.

What is a Tornado Cont. Tornadoes form with warm humid

air mixing with cool dry air. When the two different types of air

meet and collide, instability in the atmosphere occurs.

Then a change in the wind direction as well as an increase in the wind speed create an invisible horizontal spinning effect.

The winds can reach up to 300mph

Tornadoes can cover up to one mile wide and 50 miles long

They develop very rapidly, therefore at times it is hard to provide enough warning

HOW TO BECOME AWARE OF AN APPROACHING TORNADO

Before a tornado hits: “the wind may die down

and the air may become very still.”

“A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.”

“Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm”

“It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado”

TORNADO WARNINGS Because tornadoes

develop very rapidly, warnings are often given with very little notice

https://youtu.be/4_ZZFKjjoL0

WHEN/WHERE ARE TORNADOES MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR? Tornadoes can hit during any time of

the year. “Tornadoes occur in many parts of

the world, including Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Even New Zealand reports about 20 tornadoes each year”, but are most likely to hit the center of the US (Tornado Alley)

For the northern states, Tornadoes usually hit around the summer time.

In southern states the “tornado season” is between March and May.

The US central is hit with at least 500 tornadoes a year.

The center of the US is the region in which the air becomes unstable (cold air clashes with warm air which is why tornadoes are seen in that area.)

HOW DO TORNADOES AFFECT LIFE ON EARTH?

Tornadoes can be extremely destructive.

They cause an average of 80 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year. (mostly from flying or falling debris)

$400 million in property damage annually.

Besides the fatalities, tornadoes destroy anything in their paths.

Tornadoes pick up dirt and soil as they move. They will carry all of the dirt and debris they pick up and eventually drop it somewhere else.

Depending on how strong the tornado is, significant damage to the Earth's structure can occur. T

Tornadoes also have the strength to uproot trees and flatten foothills if the soil is soft enough.

As a result of a tornado, animal populations may have to move somewhere else in order to survive.

Debris left over from the tornado may also circulate into the environment causing pollution if the damage is severe.

CAN TORNADOES BE STOPPED? It is believed that a “Giant

Wall” can be the solution (not completely)

China and the US have similar geographic locations: Northern China Plain and the

Eastern China Plain is also in the zone of mixing, similar to Tornado Alley

Tornadoes are a smaller threat in China because there are three east-west mountain ranges to protect these plains from tornadoes

Can Tornadoes be Stopped?

Because of the mountains in China, it is believed that building Giant walls in North Dakota, the middle of Oklahoma, and Texas to Louisiana (frequent tornado targets) and then extending them to other tornado targets would reduce the number of tornadoes in the US.

Although it sounds like a good idea, it will not stop tornadoes all together.

Besides that, the project will be very costly.

THANK YOU