Pop over to https://learningmole.com/pricing/ to subscribe and access over 3,200 fabulous educational videos AND we offer the first 6 months of subscription for just £1.99 p/m on all our student and teacher plans.
Pop over to https://learningmole.com/pricing/ to subscribe and access over 2500 fabulous educational videos AND we are offering the first 6 months of subscription for just £1.99 p/m on all our student and teacher plans.
Ever wondered how tornadoes form? What does a tornado look like? What causes a tornado? Are there different types of tornadoes? Where do tornadoes occur? or even looking for a tornado definition? Then look no further, this video is full of tornado facts - everything from What is a tornado to How long do tornadoes last is answered.
So what is a tornado? The first thing that comes to the mind - whether of an adult or a child - when tornadoes are talked about is "spinning" since it is delivered in the easiest way to kids as being a "spinning wind". A tornado is a violent spinning tube of air, it extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the earth's surface and it touches both the ground and a cloud above.
Have you ever thought about the reason why some spinning games at the amusement parks are referred to as tornadoes, cyclones or twisters? This goes back to the real tornado that is known to be a natural disaster since it is not just known as a tornado, but it is also known as cyclone and twister.
How do tornadoes form? Tornadoes from from thunderstorms, or at least most of them do. When the warm and cool air meet, moist and dry together, they create instability in the atmosphere, a change in the air direction and speed in the altitudes, which causes the air to swirl, rising air from the ground and puts it up to the swirling air and takes it over, the funnel of the swirling air begins to suck up more warm air from the ground, the funnel goes further and stretch towards the ground and when it touches the ground it becomes the tornado which we see at the end.
The collision or the meeting of the two different air types can form a tornado, but this is not all of it because this different types of weather collision could also lead to hurricanes as well (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye0wWBOKIZY), the only difference is that hurricanes are usually formed above the ocean and they might be the reason behind the appearance of tornadoes.
We all know that tornadoes appear in the form of swirling air but it does not always appear in the same way, sometimes it appears as a funnel, other times it appears as a thin rope and there are those with the smoky look to them, there are also those tornadoes that have multiple vortices which are thin small tornadoes rotating around which sometimes are not invisible and clear.
How do tornadoes stop? Actually it is not yet understood how do tornadoes stop and tornado experts are still trying to solve this puzzle.
There are different weather conditions that could be the cause of tornadoes and one of these examples is the supercell thunder storm which is the largest and most severe type of single cell thunderstorm that usually produce loads of hail, torrential rain and strong winds, and these thunderstorms could actually cause very violent tornadoes with winds that exceed 200 MPH.
There are different types of weather conditions that come under the name of tornadoes, such as the water spout which is the weak spout tornado that forms over the water and which are mostly common over the gulf coast and they sometimes move on land that could actually lead to some losses.
There is also the dust devil which generally forms in the hot sun in the early morning or even in the early afternoon hours, these are usually harmless and were triggered by light desert breezes and they create a swirling bloom of dust. The devil dust is different from the tornado because it is not attached to a thunderstorm or any cloud and it is usually very weak.
The measurement of the strength of tornadoes is important because it will help people to know the amount of damage it might cause for them to take the precautions needed or at least know of what they might pass by. People might not know about the appearance of a tornado before it occurs but it could suddenly happen without giving them the chance to take the needed precautions.
Tornadoes could actually cause a lot of damage depending on how far they could actually reach and travel. Most tornadoes travel a few miles before exhausting themselves, but there are also those extreme tornadoes that could travel much further, sometimes they travel 100 miles. One of the famous tornadoes out there is the Tri-State tornado that traveled from Missouri to Illinois to Indiana back in 1925 and left a path of destruction behind over 219 miles long.
AI Generated·May contain errors
Comments are disabled for this video.
Hello, this is James.
This is Aaron. We are going to tell you all about tornadoes.
Aaron, what are you doing? I'm pretending I'm a tornado.
I know tornado spins, but what is a tornado?
A tornado is a rapidly spinning tube of air. It extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the
earth's surface. It touches both the ground and a cloud above.
Tornadoes can also be called cyclones or twisters.
Ah, that's why my favorite fun fair ride is called the cyclone,
because it spins just like a tornado.
Exactly, but how do tornadoes form?
Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms, meaning warm moist air and cool dry air.
When these two air types meet, they create instability in the atmosphere.
A change in wind direction and speed at high altitudes causes the air to swirl horizontally.
Rising air from the ground pushes up on the swirling air and tips it over.
The funnel of swirling air begins to suck up more warm air from the ground.
The funnel grows longer and stretches toward the ground.
When the funnel touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.
So it's all about different types of air meeting?
A bit like hurricanes too.
Yes, I suppose you are right.
Only hurricanes usually form over the ocean.
Sometimes hurricanes can create tornadoes too.
Is that really what a tornado looks like?
Tornadoes can appear as a funnel shape or in a thin rope-like shape.
Some have a churning, smoky look to them, and others contain multiple
vortices, which are small individual tornadoes rotating around.
Even others may nearly be invisible, with only swirling dust or debris
at ground levels has the only indication of the tornado's presence.
How do tornadoes stop?
Actually, it is not fully understood about how exactly tornadoes form, grow, and die.
Tornado researchers are still trying to solve the tornado puzzle.
This is definitely like a comic book.
Who can solve the puzzle and stop James the Invisible Tornado?
You are really enjoying this.
You'll be getting dizzy too.
Have you ever heard of a supercell thunderstorm?
What's a supercell thunderstorm?
Supercell thunderstorms are the largest, most severe class of single-cell thunderstorms.
These storms usually produce loads of hail, torrential rain, and strong winds.
Supercell thunderstorms can produce violent tornadoes
with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour.
200 miles per hour?
It can be invisible 200 miles per hour tornado.
Wow.
Here's another power for you.
You can be Tornado Man.
Different types of tornado powers.
You could also be a waterspout.
A waterspout?
A waterspout is just a weak tornado that forms over water.
They're most common along the Gulf Coast.
Waterspouts can sometimes move inland, becoming tornadoes causing damage and injuries.
Or a landspout.
This is a very weak tornado.
It is the land equivalent of a waterspout.
No, they wouldn't be powerful enough.
Well, what about a dust devil?
Now you're talking.
That sounds more like it.
What's a dust devil?
A dust devil generally forms in the hot sun during the late morning or the early afternoon hours.
These are mostly harmless whirlwinds and are triggered by light desert breezes.
These create a swirling plume of dust with speeds rarely over 70 miles per hour.
These differ from tornadoes in that they are not attached to a thunderstorm or any cloud
and are usually very weak.
Nope, too slow.
This sounds more scary than it is.
Does it cause lots of damage?
Not usually.
But how are tornadoes measured?
The Fujita scale is a common way of measuring the strength of tornadoes.
The scale ranges from F0 tornadoes that cause minimal damage
through to F5 tornadoes which cause massive damage.
F0, 40 to 72 miles per hour.
Light damage, branches broken off trees, minor roof damage.
F1, 73 to 112 miles per hour, moderate damage,
trees snapped, mobile homes pushed over, roofs damaged.
F2, 113 to 157 miles per hour, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished,
trees uprooted, strong built homes unroofed.
F3, 158 to 206 miles per hour, severe damage, trains overturned, cars lifted off the ground,
strong built homes, halfway sidewalls blown away.
F4, 207 to 260 miles per hour, devastating damage, houses levelled,
leaving piles of debris, cars thrown 300 yards or more in the air.
F5, 261 to 318 miles per hour, incredible damage.
Strong built homes completely blown away, automobile sized missiles generated.
Wow, tornadoes can really do lots of damage.
How far can tornadoes travel?
Most tornadoes travel a few miles before exhausting themselves.
But extreme tornadoes can travel much further, sometimes over 100 miles or 161 kilometers.
The tri-state tornado that traveled through parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana in 1925
left a path of destruction over 290 miles or 352 kilometers long.
That is a massive distance.
Imagine looking out of a window to see a tornado going your direction.
Terrifying!
Where do tornadoes occur?
The USA averages around 1,200 tornadoes every year more than any other country.
The majority of these tornadoes occur in a unique area nicknamed Tornado Alley.
U.S. states most often hit by tornadoes include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Florida.
So there are no tornadoes in Europe?
Well, there are but not as many as in America and they are usually not as powerful.
Did you know that tornadoes can happen at any time of the year and any time of the day?
In southern states, peak tornado season is from March through to May.
Peak times for tornadoes in the northern states are during the summer.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
So Aaron, where was the deadliest tornado?
In 1989, the deadliest tornado ever recorded in the world killed around 1,300 people in Bangladesh.
How do people survive this extreme weather?
What do you do in a tornado?
Before a tornado, have a disaster plan.
Prepare a kit with emergency food for your home.
Have enough food and water for at least three days.
During a tornado, go to a basement.
If you do not have a basement, go to a room with white windows on the lowest floor.
If you can, get under a sturdy piece of furniture like a table.
Get out of cars.
Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.
Leave it immediately.
If you're outside, go in a ditch or low-lying area and lie flat in it.
If you're at school during a tornado, every school should have a disaster plan and frequent drills.
Crouch down on your knees and protect your head with your arms.
Great advice, but that wouldn't stop me from catching villains.
I can see the headlines.
James the Incredible Invisible Tornado spins his 200 miles per hour multiple vortices
to catch the evil green grabber.
James, you're getting carried away.
Don't get too sucked into all this superhero stuff.
Get it?
Sucked into?
Tornadoes sucking stuff up?
Will you ever stop?
Well, thanks for all of the facts.
I'm ready to ride my comic strip.
I can't wait to read about your adventures.
James the Tornado to the rescue!
I hope you enjoyed learning all about tornadoes.
Don't forget to give us a like and subscribe.
Please visit us at www.learningmo.com
