Tornados

Question 1

Tornado

Answer 1

A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air formed by a thunderstorm, which reaches to surface of the
Earth. The great majority of tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour, are less than 100
meters across, and exist for only a few minutes (traversing a path of a few miles at most) before
dissipating. Rare, extreme tornadoes can contain wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour. They
may be 1-2 miles across and cover a path tens of miles long

Question 2

Measuring tornados

Answer 2

Fujita scale

Question 3

EF0

Answer 3

Light damage
65-85 mph

Question 4

EF1

Answer 4

Moderate Damage
86-110 mph

Question 5

EF2

Answer 5

Considerable Damage
111-135 mph

Question 6

EF3

Answer 6

Severe Damage
136-165 mph

Question 7

EF4

Answer 7

Devasting Damage
166-200 mph

Question 8

EF5

Answer 8

Incredible Damage
>200 mph

Question 9

Tornado Formation

Answer 9

Tornadoes are usually formed in association with severe thunderstorms, most often supercells, but sometimes
at squall lines and multicell clusters.
The parent event must persist for a significant amount of time (several hours) for the conditions necessary for
the tornado to develop.
One essential condition is the existence of strong, long-lasting updrafts.
Also, there must be some way for rotation to develop. Rotation is generally provided by some form of wind
shear. Wind shear exists when winds are blowing in different directions (or at different speeds) at different locations. The wind shear causes one side of an air mass to move in one direction, while the other side of the air mass pushed in another direction. These differential forces create rotation. Wind shear may be a result of differential up- and down- drafts within a supercell, or may be a consequence of broader atmospheric
conditions.

Question 10

Tornado life cycle

Answer 10

Wall Cloud
Funnel
Mature
Rope