15 Questions
What is a tornado?
A column of violently rotating air formed during thunderstorms
Where is 'Tornado Alley' located?
South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado
What term is commonly used to refer to tornadoes?
Cyclones
When do the majority of tornadoes form?
During late spring and summer
In what type of thunderstorm are winds already in rotation?
Supercell
What factor is associated with an increase in a tornado's intensity?
Tornado width
Which scale was used to measure tornado strength before 2007?
Fujita-Pearson (FPP) Scale
What is the primary basis for categorizing tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale?
Wind speed associated with the tornado
At what wind speed does a tornado on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale reach EF3 intensity?
136-165 mph
What level of damage is typically associated with an EF4 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale?
Houses swept away
What meteorological phenomenon is responsible for the formation of a tornado?
Horizontal wind shear
How do scientists classify a weather event as a tornado?
When it touches the ground and source cloud
What technology do meteorologists use to detect hook echoes in supercells, indicating potential tornado formation?
Doppler radar
How are tornadoes categorized by scientists to assess their impact?
Based on the destruction caused and wind speed
Why are adjacent areas more prone to invasion by non-native plant species after a forest has been destroyed by a tornado?
Increased sunlight reaching the forest floor
Learn about the characteristics and formation of tornadoes, including their violent rotating air columns and high wind speeds. Discover the origins of the term 'tornado' and how meteorologists predict these severe weather events.
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