15 Questions
What is a tornado?
A column of violently rotating air formed during thunderstorms
Where are tornadoes most likely to occur?
Southern Canada and Tornado Alley
What is a supercell?
A large thunderstorm in which winds are already in rotation
What does the term 'tornado' mean in Spanish?
To turn
How many instances of tornadoes does the United States experience each year?
More than 1,200
When are the majority of tornadoes likely to form?
Late spring and summer
What is the statistical likelihood of a supercell producing a tornado?
Approximately 20% of the time
What is the primary factor that leads to the formation of a tornado?
Horizontal wind shear and updrafts in a severe thunderstorm
What is the role of an updraft in the formation of a tornado?
Lifts the column of air and pulls in more warm air
What technology do meteorologists use to look for hook echoes indicative of a supercell, providing warnings of an approaching tornado?
Doppler radar technology
How are tornadoes categorized by meteorologists?
Using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which assesses damage indicators and wind speeds
What is the primary purpose of stormchasers in relation to tornadoes?
To measure the factors involved in tornado formation using special equipment and weather balloons
What is the primary difference between the Fujita-Pearson (FPP) scale and the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale?
The EF Scale incorporates additional factors related to damage indicators and degrees of damage to better reflect the wind speeds associated with a specific tornado
What is the role of the National Weather Service in evaluating tornado damage?
To examine the impacted area for signs of damage, assign wind speed, and determine the path of the tornado
What is the primary impact of a tornado's path length on its level of destruction?
As path length increases, there is a concomitant increase in expected intensity
Test your knowledge of tornadoes with this quiz! Learn about the formation, characteristics, and impacts of these powerful and destructive weather phenomena.
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