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The formation of tornadoes is complicated.
First, a condition called wind shear, in which the speed or direction of the wind changes with altitude. If the shear is strong enough it can essentially tilt a thunderstorm, this separates the updraft and downdraft of the thunderstorm, preventing them from interfering with one another. This allows the storm to become stronger and last longer.
Additionally, if the wind shear is strong enough it can start the air rolling in what is called horizontal vorticity. This horizontal vorticity can then be turned vertical by a thunderstorm's updraft. When this happens, the thunderstorm may start rotating. The rotation is especially strong in an updraft called a mesocyclone. If the storm intensifies rapidly enough, a relatively warm downdraft called a rear-flank downdraft or RFD can wrap around the bottom part of the mesocyclone. This can then tighten and intensify its rotation and bring it down to the ground to produce a tornado.
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How can a tornado form in space?
Tornadoes cannot form in space. A tornado is a vortex of air. There is no air in space.
Can a tornado form above the clouds pointing up?
No. Tornadoes descend from the base of thunderstorms, usually associated with very tall thunderstorms. The tornado begins in the lower portions of the storm. Furthermore, if the vortex does not touch the ground, it is not considered a tornado.
What weather conditions is a tornado most lkely to form in?
During severe thunderstorms.
How do tornadoes form in tornadoes?
This best seems to describe a multiple vortex tornado. This is a tornado that has smaller vortices, called suction vortices, circling inside the main vortex. The development of such a tornado is complicated. Let's start with a single vortex tornado. Contrary to popular belief the strongest winds in a tornado are at the edge of the funnel rather than at the center. However, the lowest pressure in a tornado is at the center. While air mostly moves up in a tornado, in some especially strong ones, the low pressure causes a downdraft to move down the center of the tornado. This is a process called vortex breakdown. When this downdraft reaches ground level the air must move outward, but it soon meets the air flowing into the tornado. This interaction creates and area of very strong convergence where the inflow and outflow meet, and some of the tornado's angular momentum gets converted into smaller vortices within the main circulation. These suction vortices create looping swaths of more severe damage within the main damage path.
What makes a funnel cloud?
A funnel cloud forms when the vortex of a developing tornado draws in moist air. As the air enters the vortex it undergoes a pressure drop, which in turn produce a temperature drop. This causes the moisture to condense and form a funnel cloud.
How can a tornado form in space?
Tornadoes cannot form in space. A tornado is a vortex of air. There is no air in space.
How does wind make up a tornado?
A tornado is a very intense vortex of air. Air spirals in towards the low pressure at the center of the tornado and is then drawn upwards. Most tornadoes form from a larger vortex called a mesocyclone, which is part of the updraft of some thunderstorms. At some point this vortex tightens and intensifies to form a tornado.
Is a tornado a form of gas?
No, it is a vortex that is made out of a gaseous mixture (air)
What type of air pressure creates a tornado?
Tornadoes form under conditions of low pressure
How can a double tornado stay on ground?
A "double tornado" is scientifically known as a multiple vortex or multivortex tornado. In such tornadoes smaller vortices form within the main vortex of the tornado. These subvortices usually do not last long and individually do not impact the overall tornado very much. Rather than indicating a lack of organization in the tornado, a multivortex structure usually indicates a strong tornado.
Can you make a tornado using a liquid dish soap?
Not a real tornado of course. But if you take a glass of water and swirl it the soap bubbles will make the vortex more visible.
Will there ever be a rainbow twister?
If by that you mean a tornado with a rainbow near it then yes, sometimes rain falls very near a tornado, which can form a rainbow under the right conditions
Is a tornado watch better than a tornado warning?
Yes. A tornado watch simply means that general conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been detected or may form at any moment.
What is a multiple vortex tornado?
A multiple vortex tornado is a tornado that has two or more smaller vorticies inside the main circulation. These subvorticies or suction vortices can have winds up to 100 mph faster than the rest of the tornado, and thus cause more severe damage. This is one reason why one area hit by a tornado may only sustain moderate damage, while the area next to it may be devastated. Normally these vortices are hidden within the main funnel, but if conditions are right a multiple vortex tornado may have two or more funnels. Each subvortex usually only lasts a few seconds.
Where is the potential energy present before the tornado occurs?
The energy is stored in the air as thermal energy. A supercell thunderstorm turns that into kinetic energy in the form of rotating wind. Under the right conditions that rotation can form a tornado.
How are tornadoes weather?
A tornado is a violent vortex of wind that develops during a thunderstorm, which qualifies tornadoes as a form of severe weather.
What is a vortex of a water tornado?
A vortex generator is an aerodynamic surface, consisting of a small vane that creates a vortex. Some surfaces on an airplane can result in air flow separating from the surface or skin. A vortex generator creates a tip vortex which draws energetic, rapidly-moving air from outside the slow-moving boundary layer into contact with the aircraft skin. This keeps the flow close to the aircraft surfaces. Vortex generators delay flow separation and aerodynamic stalling; they improve the effectiveness of control surfaces. You may see vortex generators as a row of small vanes that are mounted in a row along a tail surface.
