Unit 3 - Tornadoes Flashcards

Tornado Intensity and Classification

• Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornado intensity from eF1 to eF5 based on wind speeds and damage types.
• EF1 tornadoes feature wind speeds between 86-110 mph, causing moderate damage.
• EF2 tornadoes have wind speeds of 111-135 mph, resulting in considerable damage.
• EF3 tornadoes exhibit wind speeds of 136-165 mph and cause severe destruction.
• EF4 tornadoes reach wind speeds of 166-200 mph, leading to devastating damage.
• EF5 tornadoes produce incredible damage, characterized by extreme wind speeds.

Tornado Measurement Tools

• The original Fujita Scale measures tornado severity from 0 to 6, based on damage observed.
• Hook echo on Doppler radar indicates potential tornado presence; appears as a hook shape.
• Mammatus clouds are low-hanging bulges from cumulonimbus clouds, often linked to severe weather.
• Supercell thunderstorms possess rotating cylindrical updrafts, typically generating severe weather conditions.

Tornado Warnings and Watches

• A tornado warning indicates a tornado has been spotted in the sky or detected on radar.
• A tornado watch is a forecast warning the public that tornadoes may develop in the designated area.

Tornado Characteristics

• Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over bodies of water.
• The Great Plains of the US is the most active region for tornado production globally.
• A single thunderstorm can generate multiple tornadoes.

Tornado Formation and Stages

• Mesocyclones are rotating columns of air that signal the potential for tornado formation.
• Wall clouds induce upward rotating winds, crucial for mesocyclone creation.
• Tornado development progresses through five stages: dust whirl, organizing, mature, shrinking, and decaying.
• The dust whirl stage involves light damage as dust swirls upward; organizing involves the funnel extending downward.
• The mature stage represents the peak destruction potential of a tornado.
• The shrinking stage shows the tornado decreasing in size as its holding forces weaken.
• The decaying stage occurs when the tornado dissipates and becomes invisible.

Funnel Clouds vs Tornadoes

• A funnel cloud does not interact with the ground, whereas a tornado does.
• Landspouts occur over land, while waterspouts form over water.

Radar Detection and Meteorological Differences

• Forecasters detect tornadoes within supercells by identifying the presence of a mesocyclone.
• Supercells differ from regular thunderstorms due to their substantial updrafts and formation of mesocyclones, often attributed to wind shear.
• The distinction between tornado watch and warning involves weather conditions that could foster tornadoes versus confirmed tornado sightings.
• The Fujita Scale assesses tornado severity based on wind speed and potential damage.

Wind Speed Comparison

• The wind speed difference between EF1 and EF5 tornadoes is roughly 150 mph.

Test your knowledge about tornadoes with these flashcards focusing on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Learn the classifications from EF1 to EF5, including wind speeds and the resulting damage. Perfect for anyone studying meteorology or natural disasters.