Extreme Weather: Tornadoes & Their Science
As temperatures are changing with the seasons, whether it’s winter or summer where you live, there are always some unexpected things, sometimes pleasant or very nasty. And today, we’re exploring one of them. Buckle up because let’s ride into the tornado!
If you haven’t heard of one, here’s a basic description: A spinning vortex of clouds and debris, riding winds tens or even hundreds of kilometers per hour. Recently, these monsters have destroyed villages in the midwestern U.S., leaving wreckage in its path. So how do tornadoes form, and why do they cause so much damage? Well, it’s like when every problem starts, with an ordinary phenomenon, in the tornado’s case, a thunderstorm. But don’t underestimate this storm’s power. Most thunderstorms are a bunch of clouds that gather, raining water or hail, along with some occasional lightning strike. However, this particular storm could get much worse.
A tornado starts as two currents of air, warm and cool. Since cool air is denser and heavier than warm air, it slides underneath, while the warmer air creates an updraft. As the updraft reaches the thunderclouds, they cool and slide back down. This process continues, and a spinning funnel of dust and dirt emerges. The spinning vortex started connected to the cloud. But as it grows and the updrafts tighten it, the vortex touches the ground and starts moving. Their duration varies from a few seconds to several hours, though not all long-lasting tornadoes cause the worse damage.
That depends on wind speeds, from about 96 kilometers per hour winds, the lowest category, to more than 320 kilometers per hour. That’s enough to lift entire trucks and train cars into the sky! It might not be surprising by now that weather conditions majorly impact the speeds of a tornado. In some places, such as Tornado Valley in the U.S., tornadoes are more frequent. Some people “chase” a tornado in a specially designed vehicle, hoping to capture the moment one formed. Even though all this information about tornadoes, scientists still don’t fully understand all the inner workings of one.
OK, so maybe you’re getting pretty worried by now. What could you do in such a situation? Well, it’s best to hide under a sturdy piece of furniture or in a basement, if possible. Remember to protect your head and crouch down to minimize surface area and the chances of getting hurt. And just in case, it’s a good idea to prepare an emergency kit with supplies like food, water, flashlights, and essential things that could be useful in a shortage. Or you could go to Antarctica. There are virtually no warm winds there, and tornadoes wouldn’t form! That’s the end of this production from the New News Newsminute. Thank you, and tune in next time for more updates.