How do tornados form? - Faculty Web Pages

Kristy Stolz, Savanna Hawkins,Myka Lyles, Heather Gabriele

Tornadoes are violent winds that rotate from asuper cell down to the ground.They rotate counterclockwise in the northernhemisphere and clockwise in the southern.

The condition of a tornado is most favorable whenwarm moist air is underneath a layer of cold, dryair. When the warm air rises, it cools down. As itrises rapidly, it begins to spin in a circulardirection, creating a funnel. When the funnelcloud touches the ground, a tornado is formed.

• Super Cell – long-lived thunderstorm;continuous updraft of air• Updraft – warm air current rising upwardthrough a storm• Downdraft – cool air current movingdownward through a storm

Tornadoes can occuranywhere around theworld, but arepredominate aroundTornado Alley,which is flat landfrom west Texas toNorth Dakota.Tornadoes also occurin other countries,such as China, India,Russia, England, andGermany.

Tornadoes can occur anytime throughout the year;however tornado season is early spring throughmid-summer.Winter - Occurs around the Gulf Coastal PlainEx. Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia.Spring – Occurs in the United States Midwest(Tornado Alley).Ex. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Southern IowaSummer – Occurs in the northern states.Ex. Dakotas, Pennsylvania, Southern New York

The Enhanced Fujita Scale is just an updatedFujita Scale.

1999 Moore, Ok F5EF-4EF-3EF-1

• Deadliest single tornado – “Tri-state”(Missouri, Illinois, Indiana) March 18, 1925;killed 695 people, F5• Deadliest outbreak – April 3, 1974, a two-dayoutbreak of 147 tornadoes, killing 308 people in13 states• Oklahoma City – most hit city with around 100tornadoes recorded since 1893

• Causes houses to explode from change in airpressure.• False. They are damaged by strong winds, not pressuredamage.• A tornado is always preceded by a funnel cloud.• False. It can cause damage though a funnel cloud is notvisible.• Tornadoes cannot travel up or down hillsides.• False. Tornadoes can travel across water and travel upand down hillsides.

• Greenish or greenish black color in the sky• Large hail• Sudden quit after a storm• Dark low lying clouds, mainly if rotating• Fast moving Clouds• Loud roar (sounding like a freight train)• Tornado watch or warning posted on news• Tornado watch – possible tornado• Tornado warning – tornado has been sitedTake Shelter immediately!

• Structure – (residence, buildings, school, etc.)Go to basement or designated tornado shelter. If noshelters are available, go to center part of building, awayfrom windows, corners, doors, and outer walls (ex.Closet, hallway).• Vehicle, trailer, or mobile home – Get outimmediately, and go to the lowest level of a building.• Outside with no shelter – Lie in a ditch, cover headwith hands. Do not get under over pass or bridge. Nevertry to out run a tornado. Watch out for flying debris.

Grade 7- ESS.8.7.8• Identify the causes and effects of weather-related phenomena:• thunderstorms• tornadoes/ hurricanes/cyclones/ typhoons• drought• acid precipitationESS.8.7.9• Explain tornado belt weather patterns using a map of the UnitedStates

Materials:• 2 clear plastic sodabottles- 2 liter• Pitcher of water• Tape• Dirt, grass, toys, smalltoy houses (for effects)

• Fill one bottle ¾ full of water.• At this time you can also add the dirt, grass, toys, ect.• Tape the second bottle to the one with water in it.Make sure the spouts are lined up evenly in orderfor the project to work.• After the bottles are assembled turn the bottlesupside down to where the water is pouring intothe empty bottle. Swirl it in a circular motion realfast to create your tornado.• Do Not shake the bottle up and down or it will not work.

Materials:• Three sidedpresentation board• 3- plexi-glass sheets• Duck tape• Box Fan• Beaker filled half-full• Hot plate• Dry Ice

• Cut a window on each side of the presentationboard. (should be a total of 2 windows)• Tape two of the plexi-glass sheets to the twowindows. Leave about a 1 inch gap from thewindow to the board to create a vent to allow air tocome in.• Attach the third sheet of glass on the front to createa door.• Put box fan on top of the board.• Make sure there are no openings in the chamber besidesthe two vents.• Put hot plate inside

• Heat the beaker of water to almost boiling.• Using gloves, place a few small pieces of dryice in to the beaker.• Make sure that nobody touches the dry ice withthere bare hands, as this could cause a serious injury.If you do not have gloves use tongs.• Quickly close chamber door and let the dry icevapor build up.• Turn the box fan on low.• Watch the tornado spin!!!!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBd0sG559aA&feature=player_embedded#• http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wildernessresources/stories/top-10-tornado-videos-nos-4-3

• www.livescience.com/environment/090618-tornadofacts.html• encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761554892/Tornado.html• www.weather.com/ready/tornado/index.html• www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm