NEWS
- 11 May | Right Approach to Study Economy For Beginners Click Here →
- 05 May | Caution!! You may enter into No productivity Zone Click Here →
- 07 May | How Toppers identify the Implicit Demand of the Question Click Here to watch Ujjawal Priyank IAS AIR 10 Strategy →
News: A large tornado touched down in Kay County, Oklahoma, with multiple confirmed tornadoes during an active severe weather outbreak.
About Twister (Tornado)
- A twister, commonly known as a tornado, is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
- Formation mechanism:
- Initial condition: Warm, moist air near the surface rises while cold, dry air above creates strong atmospheric instability.
- Rotation development: Wind shear causes changes in wind speed and direction with height, which creates a horizontal spinning motion in the air.
- Vertical formation: Strong updrafts in a thunderstorm tilt this horizontal rotation into a vertical position and intensify it.
- Final stage: Descending air helps pull the rotating column downward, and when it touches the ground, it becomes a tornado or twister.
- Types:
- Supercell tornadoes: These are the most intense and form from rotating thunderstorms with a mesocyclone, causing major destruction.
- Landspouts: These are weaker and short-lived tornadoes that form without a mesocyclone.
- Waterspouts: These form over water bodies and may sometimes move onto land.
- Multiple-vortex tornadoes: These consist of smaller rotating columns within a larger tornado, increasing damage intensity.
- Key characteristics:
- Structure: They appear as a funnel-shaped cloud, often visible due to dust and debris.
- Intensity: Wind speeds can exceed 480 km/h, making them highly destructive.
- Duration and Size: Most last less than 10 minutes, and their width can range from a few metres to over 3 km.
- Movement and Rotation: They follow unpredictable paths and rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, while flying debris causes major damage.
- Measurement: Twisters are measured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, which classifies them based on damage and estimated wind speeds.
- Geographic distribution:
- High frequency: United States, especially Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska).
- Other regions: Bangladesh, Canada, Argentina, and Australia.
- India: Tornadoes are rare in India, they mostly occur in eastern states, including Odisha, West Bengal,Bihar, and Assam.
