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A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground, often made visible by a funnel cloud.
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.
What else can I help you with?
What are 2 main causes of tornadoes?
Ultimately, the two primary causes of tornadoes are convective instability, which leads to thunderstorms, and wind shear, which gives those storms the rotation they need to produce tornadoes.
What season causes tornadoes?
Tornadoes come in all seasons but are most common in spring and summer.
What are the human causes of tornadoes?
Humans do not cause tornadoes. While climate change may affect tornadoes, it is still uncertain how exactly this will play out.
Why are there tornadoes in the southern hemisphere?
Tornadoes form in the southern hemisphere for the same reason they form in the northern hemisphere. The mechanics are the same. See the related question for what causes tornadoes
What causes tornadoes dry climates stationary fronts condensation or wind shears?
Condensation and wind shear are both needed for tornadoes to form. Tornadoes can form along stationary fronts as well.
Why tornadoes damage things?
The winds in tornadoes are extremely fast. The winds can push against and tear away at objects. Winds in tornadoes often carry flying debris that causes damage on impact.
Why do tornadoes in the US occur in the spring?
It is during the spring that there are may collisions between warm air and cold air. This causes thunderstorms which in turn can produce tornadoes.
When tornadoes form why is sky green?
The storms that produce tornadoes often produce hail as well. The presence of hail causes light to be refracted in an unusual way.
Natural causes that may change an environment on Earth?
forest fire,hurricanes and tornadoes
How do tornadoes killed people?
They make buildings collapse on them and causes flying debris to hit them.
What are some of the causes and effects of tornadoes?
There are many harmful effects on tornadoes but a couple of examples are destruction of homes, land, and necessities that apply to people. The causes of these natural disasters are the high wind speeds and the location where it strikes.
What causes most deaths during a tornado?
Most deaths during tornadoes are from flying debris.
