IT'S A TORNADO!
The Beast of Distruction
Chasing the cyclone
Of course you can't go tornado chasing without any equipment. Most of the electronics that you should use include cameras, camcorders, laptops, and radios. However, you should also have miniature TV's, scanners, GPS tracking, and micro cassette recorders. you probably aren't going to carry all of this stuff and you need a vehicle. Many people favorite cars are sporty cars such has SUV's. Although, your car should provide space for coolers, anemometers ( tools that measure wind and speed.) thermometers, road atlases, and first aid kits for safety.
Dangers Along the Way:
Just because people chase tornadoes has a hobby, doesn't make it safe. Chasers put their life on the line just for science, or to take that last photo almost every day. In fact, tornadoes aren't the only dangers you have to be aware of. Hail is also a common concern for chasers. Not just that, but lightning and high winds could end your life in a flash. As you can see, there are many dangers in chasing a tornado but that doesn't make it a bad thing.
Chasing Season:
When it's time for tornadoes to strike, chasers search in tornado alley. This is where the most tornadoes happen. An estimated 1,000 people chase tornadoes all year round. This means that there are even more people in the actual tornado season. If you are looking for the easiest storm to chase recommendations point to an open country in the afternoon. At this place and time tornadoes that aren't fast or wrapped in other storms are most likely active. On the other hand, you probably travel over 100 miles searching for a wild twister. This may be because many people start in the morning when most tornadoes occur in the afternoon. Also, a Doppler radar can spot a me-cyclone 2-4 hours before it occurs. These people are not professional scientists but are still helping our community.
A MONSTROUS COUNTY TORNADO
A STORM CHASING VEHICLE
DESTRUCTION AFTER A TORNADO
From Beginning to End
First:
Towering thunderstorms rise up to 50,000 feet with high force winds. While lightning flashes hailstones drop from the clouds. Flooding is also a popular thing to occur in this event.
Then:
If this happens in the specific time and place condensation occurs. Condensation releases heat and becomes energy which drives huge upward drafts of air. As your ears begin to pop, you think, "Oh no!" The more condensation and the bigger the cloud means it will be more and more powerful. Air eventually climbs, changes direction, and moves more quickly.
After:
A lot of moisture provides a huge cloud base to develop. This gives the tornado more energy to feed off of later, if it gets that far.
Next:
If, and that's a big if, everything works out perfectly, a vortex can develop enclosed by the storm. It forms a wide tube of spinning air and gets pulled upward. This is called a mesocyclone.
Outside:
Outside the mesocyclone cool air will start to wrap around the back, forming a rear flank downdraft. The temperature difference between the air inside and outside is building a tornado ready to attack!
Finally:
The lower part then becomes tighter and increases the speed of the wind. If the funnel moves down into the cloud base, the bottom of the parent storm, it sucks it in and turns into a rotating wall of cloud. It forms a link between the storm that created it and the earth. It touches the ground an becomes a tornado.
Weakening:
When the weather changes or the moisture in the air dries up, it loses its strength and its energy ends. When it disappears you know you're safe.
A Different Type of Family
Timing:
Tornadoes form on land and only minutes before they strike are detected. However, hurricane warnings can occur days, to weeks in advance and this storm can actually, on average, last a week. Hurricanes also form over warm water. Tornadoes, on the other hand, only last a few minutes or a half an hour. Finally, 10-15 hurricanes happen a year with about 1,200 tornadoes every year.
Destruction:
Believe it or not, a tropical storm can actually cause more destruction then a rotating column of air. Although, rain, sleet, and hail occurs in a tornado while only rain and snow in a hurricane. People may also be recovering from both of these storms years later.
Taking Cover
The Warning:
Imagine reading a book in your living room and you suddenly hear tornado sirens go off or you get an alert on your phone saying that there is a tornado. When you thought it was just a rainy day, you were wrong. You should never ignore a warning and if you really don't believe it turn on the weather and you'll find out the truth.
Safety Precautions:
You should always be prepared for a twister. Make sure your family has a plan that everybody is aware of. You should also have a box that is easy to carry. This box should provide food, water, batteries, flashlights, a portable radio, and possibly a blanket or two. If you are in a car or outside DO NOT try to outrun a cyclone. You also shouldn't hide under a bridge or tree. What you should do is find safe shelter and if nothing is to be seen, duck in the nearest ditch with your hands on your head. If you are in a house find shelter in a small closet, bathtub, or cellar. Avoid all windows for broken glass can injure you deeply. cover yourself with your hands and a blanket or mattress. By the time your radio has said that the storm is past you know you're safe and ready to take on the future.
Destruction Repairs
Living Things:
Besides humans and animals, there are still plants being destroyed. Maybe a farmers harvest will get torn apart leaving no food, plants, and animals. Not just that, but replacing trees is very hard for some take over 100 years to grow. A twister may also affect the whole food chain and disrupt the whole environment. The food chain can also be disturbed by a tornado because of water contamination.
Leaking Horrors:
Fires may also occur along with gas leaks. Power lines may also be strewn across the ground. This leads to destruction which humans have to rebuild. Many people also believe that carbon dioxide being released into the air increases the fact of global warming. What do you think?