Tornadoes and tornadoes are considered the most dangerous natural disasters for all living things. The reason for this may be constant climate change, as well as the deterioration of the ecology of the planet.
Each creature and object that gets there, after a while will be thrown from great heights and in a completely different place. Also, objects flying from a tornado are a great danger. Even houses are not protection, strong air currents can easily demolish a building, pulling a mass of debris inside.
What does the word tornado mean?
Most of the phenomenon occurs in the North American territories. It is from there that disasters take their name. In Spanish, tornadoes mean spinning. Wind whirls began to be called tornadoes by the Spanish colonists who arrived to conquer new territories.
In Russia, the phenomenon was called the usual tornado. The word comes from Old Russian “smarch” or “smarch”, which means a cloud. Thus, the concepts of “tornado” and “tornado” are synonyms. They describe the same phenomenon.
Interesting fact: once a case was recorded when a vortex carried away a heavy train weighing 80 tons. A whirlwind pulled him 40 meters from the tracks.
What is a tornado and a tornado?
Most tornadoes occur in thunderclouds. They are atmospheric vortexes that stretch from heaven to earth. The air masses are in constant motion, form a funnel that draws any object in its path. By internal flows the tornado is attracted to the surface, while the external ones rise up. Thus, the air inside the tornado is strongly discharged.
All objects falling into the tornado can explode from the simultaneous exposure to different pressures. Mostly such objects are closed buildings. A tornado does not spare anyone.
Characteristics of tornadoes, tornadoes
Types of Tornadoes
Tornadoes can vary in form. They come in the form of a cone, barrel, even a glass. Also noticed a tornado in the form of horns, hourglasses and cords in constant motion. Despite the variety of forms, tornadoes usually look like a funnel, absorbing everything in its path.
Interesting fact: Sometimes tornadoes can carry away a wide variety of objects. After which the famous rains of frogs, fish and insects appear.
Terms of existence
- A tornado can last for several minutes or for hours.
- The pressure in the center and around the periphery varies up to 200 mb.
- The tornado moves extremely quickly, speeds up to 1000 km / h.
- Despite the randomness of occurrence, the phenomenon can move along certain lines. In the north of the planet - counterclockwise, and in the south along it.
- A tornado destroys territories located in diameter equal to three kilometers.
- A tornado can be of various colors, which are determined taking into account the location of the Sun, humidity and lighting of territories nearby.
The tornadoes that appear before the Sun have a darker color, whereas if the Sun hides behind the observer, the tornado looks much lighter. In humid air, the outline of a disaster is much clearer. The most dangerous phenomena are those that occur in a dry climate, since they can not be immediately noticed. Only when falling into the vortices of any objects can it be seen, but then it is already too late. Sand and rain eddies are even more dangerous. In heavy rains they are also difficult to see.
Where and when does a tornado occur?
Tornadoes are constantly appearing, over time they become more and more due to changes in climate and weather. Now they are recorded not only in characteristic regions, but also in places where no tornado was previously noticed. Most tornadoes occur in the United States, up to 800 tornadoes occur there annually.Most homes have special underground shelters where residents descend during a disaster. Many weather services record tornadoes daily. In 1965 alone, 37 tornadoes arose simultaneously.
Interesting fact: The wind flows are so powerful that even light and small objects in a whirlwind can damage the trees and buildings encountered in the disaster.
In spring and summer, the air temperature around is stable, maintained for several weeks at fairly high rates. It is in such places that tornadoes occur much more often. In winter and autumn they are seen less often. The most active months are May and June. Then a tornado arises day and evening in severe thunderstorms and heavy rains. Tornadoes practically do not occur at night.
How does a tornado occur?
Tornadoes are atmospheric whirlwinds that develop in thunderclouds and cumulus clouds. Wind flows quickly fall to the ground with a large column. The width of the column at the base can be up to 400 meters in diameter. Sometimes terrestrial tornadoes can be three kilometers wide, while on the water, as a rule, no more than 40 meters.
In order to form this powerful whirlwind, very special weather conditions are necessary. This requires the collision of two streams of air, cold and warm, suitable conditions for this are created in warm latitudes, provided that there are large plains on which the air flows are accelerated without encountering obstacles. Optimal conditions for the formation of tornadoes occur during thunderstorms when heavy rainfall occurs. Strong rainfall can obscure the formation of a funnel from the eyes, then the tornado becomes even more dangerous, because it appears completely unexpectedly.
The pressure above and below the tornado varies greatly. It is for this reason that things that fall into the epicenter simply tear to pieces. Tornadoes and tornadoes arise from the encounter of warm, moist and cold, dry air. When they collide, the active release of heat begins, the heated air currents tend upward, a large discharged area is formed.
External objects together with warm and cold air begin to be drawn into the rarefied atmosphere inside the tornado. Gradually, a kind of funnel forms. In this funnel, air moves at tremendous speeds. It can reach speeds of up to 1300 km / h. As a rule, vortices move at a speed of about 60 km / h, but some giants of the past moved at speeds of up to 500 km / h.
The shapes and sizes of the disaster are also uneven. The most common vortices bend in the form of a whip, sometimes they may look like uneven lush clouds above the earth's surface. The latter do not consist of one, but of several vortices at the same time. Once a hurricane consisting of eight funnels at a time was spotted. When volcanoes erupt, one can meet fiery whirlwinds. They are extremely dangerous, spread fires for several kilometers around the epicenter. Sand vortices are often found in the desert, which are also dangerous for people.
Interesting fact: sometimes buildings and structures do not collapse under the influence of wind, but in general they are transferred to another place or simply unfold in the other direction on their foundation.
Stages of the existence of a tornado and tornado
A tornado arises from clouds, which first take a funnel shape, then lower the funnel down to the ground. The funnel can have a different shape - there are options in the form of an hourglass, column or pillar, whip. One or more funnels may appear at the same time. During hurricanes, tornadoes can appear in dozens, because at that time ideal conditions are created for them.
The first harbinger of an approaching heavenly funnel is a sharp, sudden cooling of several degrees. Next, you can see the approaching column, sucking in air and everything that meets on the way.Experts point out that much in the appearance of the funnel depends on its contents - the color, shape and even sound largely depend on the materials collected by the funnel. And the most diverse objects can fall into the funnel - after the natural disaster ceases, they return to the ground again. These are extremely interesting rainfalls, given that the tornado is able to lift a car, or even a house.
Tornado rotation direction
Returning to the earth's tornado, it is worth noting that the direction of their rotation depends on the hemisphere, as well as the funnel of water when draining the water in the bathtub or sink. In the southern hemisphere, everything rotates clockwise, while in the northern hemisphere it is vice versa.
Tornado classification
Scientists distinguish several types of atmospheric vortices.
- In the form of a whip or whip, which are mainly observed above the sea surface. They are smooth on the outside, narrow and winding. Meeting with such vortices is fraught with serious problems.
- Blurry eddies like clouds above the ground. They are constantly spinning, they can destroy large territories. Extremely dangerous due to the fact that in such a cloud is not one funnel, but several at once. They can cover huge areas.
- Compound tornadoes from several whips simultaneously. They revolve around a large central funnel, extremely dangerous, like the previous view. They destroy not one, but several territories at once.
- Tornadoes appearing from behind volcanoes in the form of a pillar of fire. They carry fire to nearby territories, create fires.
- Water tornadoes are dangerous because they cannot hide anywhere in the sea. The crew can only hope for a favorable outcome.
- Earth tornadoes are very rare. Serious natural disasters such as earthquakes cause them. They are thin, like harnesses. Lumps of soil wriggle in the center of the column, and a dense mass of mud below.
- Snow tornadoes appear due to snowstorms and violent blizzards.
- Sand tornadoes are a separate species found in desert territories.
Sand tornado arises in an unusual way. It is formed not in the clouds, but near the earth. The sand heats up strongly under the sun, after which air currents begin to collect in this area. The sand begins to rotate gradually, a large volume funnel is formed, which can exist and move over time.
Classification of tornadoes and tornadoes according to the strength of the damage factors
Tornadoes are classified according to the strength of the damage factors.
- Weak - they do not destroy very much, they develop a small speed - up to 30 m / s. Sometimes roofs of buildings are damaged, small trees break.
- Moderate - up to 50 m / s. Destroys the roof of houses, can break cars.
- Dealing significant damage - up to 70 m / s. They can turn cars, break small houses, tear trees from the ground.
- Strong - reach speeds of up to 90 m / s. Destroy large buildings, lift into the air cars, small trains, ships.
- The strongest - reach speeds of up to 115 m / s. It can carry and destroy large structures, throw cars, destroy large objects.
- Superstrong - they reach speeds of up to 145 m / s. Destroys all objects, can carry large trains over considerable distances.
- Destroying everything - moving at a speed of 145 m / s.
What is dangerous tornado for people?
The contact of the vortex and the earth occurs very quickly, after the tornado there is nothing whole. The largest whirlwinds inflicted irreparable damage, they destroyed entire cities. Few survived in the midst of disaster. Not only small buildings are destroyed, brick buildings often collapse. It is difficult to save people from under large rubble.
What is inside the tornado?
Inside a tornado in the center is a calm area with low atmospheric pressure. The air there is discharged, so breathing is very difficult. Inside are vertical streams of air. A tornado can suck in even the most well-fixed objects.This is due to the fact that the vortex turbulence is extremely high, and the speed is constantly changing over the entire trajectory of movement.
Interesting fact: few people were able to stay alive after falling into a tornado. They were not even touched by objects around. People say that it’s hard to breathe inside a tornado because of the discharged atmosphere, but in the center of the pillar is a zone of relative calm.
What is the difference between a tornado and a tornado?
There are no differences between a tornado and a tornado. This is one and the same natural disaster, called by different words depending on the regions of the planet. Sometimes you can hear that tornadoes form above water, and tornadoes on land. In fact, there is not much difference. The phenomena are similar. In Russian-speaking countries it is customary to call atmospheric whirlwinds tornadoes, from Old Russian “smurch”, and in America the disaster is called a tornado, from the Spanish dialect.
The tornado phenomenon is very interesting. Mankind has studied it thoroughly. Air flows gather in spirals, forming a phenomenon surprising in its beauty and danger. Meteorologists cannot prevent or stop phenomena; such a mechanism has not yet been discovered.
What is stronger: tornado or tornado?
Tornadoes and tornadoes are one and the same phenomenon. Just atmospheric eddies are called differently, depending on the regions. The strongest eddies occur in North America. The last time a major disaster occurred in 1999 in Texas. Then many objects suffered, powerful air currents demolished everything in its path, they moved at a speed of 500 km / h.
Regarding the size, the largest was recognized as a tornado that hit Oklahoma in 2013. Then it moved extremely fast, almost at a speed of 490 km / h. The coverage of the tornado was great - about 4.2 km.
Why are tornadoes most often in the USA?
In the USA, tornadoes are called tornadoes. High above the Rocky Mountains, powerful westerly winds blow. Breaking into the plain, they meet low warm, humid winds from the Gulf of Mexico. These air masses collide over the central states, forming severe hurricanes and tornadoes.
Color tornado, tornado
The color of tornadoes is quite diverse. When the transcendental funnel just begins to descend from the sky, it has a dirty white or gray color. But the more dust and dirt the tornado raises from the ground, the darker it becomes. Most often, the color of the tornado is brown or reddish (the color of red clay).
Ways to protect against a tornado
Despite the development of technology, people still do not know how to prevent or neutralize this natural disaster. Also, the prediction of the phenomenon at this is very inaccurate. Now a warning about the disaster comes 15 minutes before it begins on the ground. This time is enough for the population to manage to hide in specially equipped cellars, which are widespread in the United States.
First of all, a tornado is dangerous for a person by creating blockages, the destruction of buildings. When large buildings collapse, it’s hard to find people and clear up rubble. It is also dangerous to rise into the air and the subsequent release from a high altitude. A person simply will not survive the force of impact.
Interesting fact: a case was recorded when a tornado could not be pulled off a steel bridge, after which it was twisted into a spiral.
There is only one escape from the storm - to hide in underground shelters. Since the tornado is mainly a terrestrial phenomenon, it will be much safer underground than on its surface. People go to dungeons, subways, cellars and garages. In cases where the storm is not very raging, you can be saved in fortified brick buildings. At the same time, over the sea surface, a tornado poses a huge threat. There’s no way to hide from him.
During tornadoes, you must adhere to the following line of behavior:
- No need to stop near the whirlwind in personal transport. This can lead to the fact that the vortex will carry away a person with the machine.
- You can not run out of underground shelters out, especially in the open.
- If there are no shelters nearby, then you do not need to run from the tornado. You should run away from him, as the storm moves faster than cars.
- In open areas you can find small indentations where you should lie down and curl up, covering your head with both hands.
There were three of the most devastating tornadoes in the world:
- Destroying the city of Wichita Falls in Texas in the spring of 1958, it is one of the most powerful, listed in the Guinness Book. A deadly tornado rushed at a speed of 450 km / h, sweeping everything in its path.
- Destroyed one of the largest settlements of Bangladesh in the spring of 1989. The deadliest tornado in the history of mankind. He destroyed the whole city, killed 1,300 people and crippled 12,000.
- The largest tornado in history, which included 8 funnels. Rushed across the United States in the spring of 1925.
