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lazyprofessor
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Why does a tornado vortex go down to Earth instead of up to the atmosphere?
Sounds stupid I know, but answer the question if you can.
Sounds stupid I know, but answer the question if you can.
lazyprofessor said:Why does a tornado vortex go down to Earth instead of up to the atmosphere?
Sounds stupid I know, but answer the question if you can.
lazyprofessor said:Let's start over.
Both form from the top down. A large "opening" that spirals downward and grows so long as there is sufficient force to keep it moving.
lazyprofessor said:Yes. And your first link says "We are still puzzling out details. We think tornado development might be related to temperature differences across the edge of the downdraft air (blue arrow) wrapping around the spiraling upward air. But this idea fails sometimes."
Here is a simple thought for you. Take a glass of water and swirl it around and around. Stop. You will see a vortex form if you have been successful in your technique.
Why is there a vortex? Why does it go down into the glass, not from the bottom up?
Tornadoes form when warm, moist air collides with cool, dry air. This creates instability in the atmosphere, which can lead to the development of a rotating column of air.
Tornadoes are typically associated with severe thunderstorms, which have strong updrafts. As the rotating column of air descends towards the ground, it is pulled in the direction of the storm's movement, causing it to move towards Earth.
Yes, tornadoes can change direction and even reverse their path. This can happen when the wind direction shifts or when the storm system that the tornado is associated with changes direction.
Yes, certain regions of the world, such as the central United States and parts of Asia, are more prone to tornadoes due to their geographical location and weather patterns. However, tornadoes can occur in any part of the world under the right conditions.
While we have advanced technology that allows us to track severe weather and issue warnings, it is still difficult to predict exactly when and where a tornado will form. Scientists continue to study tornado formation and work towards improving our ability to predict these destructive storms.