Download Tornadoes and Hurricanes

CGF3M
Tues. Dec. 10, 2013
 Also called a twister or cyclone
 A tornado is a powerful rotating column of air
extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, with
updwards spiralling winds
 Occur most frequently in late spring/ early summer,
between 3-9 pm.
 Found in Canada, Russia, China, Bangladesh,
Argentina, Australia- but are most frequent in the US
 More than 700 occur per year in the US
 Warm, moist air
from Gulf of Mexico
moves north and
collides with polar
air moving south
from the Arctic
 Creates instability
in the atmosphere,
leading to
supercells
FLASH animation
 Storm chasers spend up to 12 hours / day in a vehicle
tracking down storms to study
 Some use specially-designed vehicles that can actually
enter a tornado to collect data and video
 Inside a tornado-
incredible video!
 Dangers of storm
chasing- 3 dead after
tracking- video
 The Fujita Scale ranks tornadoes according to wind
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speed, duration, and path of destruction
The path can be erratic and may suddenly change
direction
Damage can extend anywhere from 15-450 kms in
length, and can be 2 metres- 2 km wide
Approx. 80 tornadoes occur each year in Canada, 2
deaths
Before and after pictures- Joplin, MI
 Tornado watch- conditions are ripe for the
development of a tornado… stay tuned.
 Tornado warning- a funnel cloud has been spotted in
the area. Take shelter!
 Also known as typhoons, tropical cyclones, and willy-
willies
 Originate over the warm ocean in areas close to the
Equator
 Intro- video
 Read the article about recent Typhoon Haiyan, answer
questions
 Tomorrow: Guest speaker!