Unit 3 - Tornadoes Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the Enhanced Fujita Scale classify?

Types of tornadoes

Severe weather warnings

Weather radar types

Intensity of a tornado based on wind speeds and damage (correct)

What wind speed range defines an EF1 tornado?

86-110 mph

What wind speed range defines an EF2 tornado?

111-135 mph

What wind speed range defines an EF3 tornado?

136-165 mph Signup and view all the answers

What wind speed range defines an EF4 tornado?

166-200 mph Signup and view all the answers

What does an EF5 tornado indicate?

Incredible damage Signup and view all the answers

What is the Fujita Scale?

A scale of tornado severity from 0 to 6 based on observed damage Signup and view all the answers

What is a hook echo?

Shape of a hook on a Doppler radar indicating possible tornado presence Signup and view all the answers

What are mammatus clouds?

Low hanging bulges that droop from cumulonimbus clouds Signup and view all the answers

What is a supercell thunderstorm?

A thunderstorm with a rotating cylindrical updraft Signup and view all the answers

What is a tornado warning?

Announcement that a tornado has been seen or detected Signup and view all the answers

What is a tornado watch?

Forecast issued to alert the possibility of tornadoes Signup and view all the answers

What defines a waterspout?

A tornado that forms over water Signup and view all the answers

Where is the most active tornado-producing region globally?

The Great Plains of the US Signup and view all the answers

A single thunderstorm can produce only one tornado.

False Signup and view all the answers

The most severe tornadoes typically form within _____ thunderstorms.

supercell Signup and view all the answers

What are mesocyclones?

A rotating column of air that is a condition for a tornado warning Signup and view all the answers

How does the wall cloud help in the formation of tornadoes?

It causes rotating winds upright, creating a mesocyclone Signup and view all the answers

What are the five stages of the building of a tornado?

Dust whirl, Organizing, Mature, Shrinking, Decaying Signup and view all the answers

What is the dust whirl stage?

Dust swirling upwards from the ground toward the funnel cloud Signup and view all the answers

What is the organizing stage of a tornado?

Downward extension of funnel and connection with dust-whirl Signup and view all the answers

What is the mature stage of a tornado?

The stage where the tornado is most destructive Signup and view all the answers

What is the shrinking stage of a tornado?

The stage where the tornado begins to get smaller as forces dissipate Signup and view all the answers

What is the decaying stage of a tornado?

Final stage when the tornado weakens and is no longer visible Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado?

A funnel cloud does not touch the ground, whereas a tornado does Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between landspouts and waterspouts?

Landspouts are over land, waterspouts are over water Signup and view all the answers

How do forecasters detect tornadoes within supercells on radar?

They look for the mesocyclone Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between supercells and thunderstorms?

Supercells have a huge updraft of air and a mesocyclone due to wind shear Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a tornado watch and warning?

A watch indicates possible tornado development; a warning indicates a spotted tornado. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Fujita scale used to classify?

Tornado severity based on wind speed and potential damage Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference in wind speeds from EF1 to EF5?

~150 mph Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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Description

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.