Tornado: In the Eye of the Storm

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a b McNoldy, Brian D. (2004). "Triple Eyewall in Hurricane Juliette" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 85 (11): 1663–1666. Bibcode: 2004BAMS...85.1663M. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-85-11-1663. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-09 . Retrieved 2018-03-10. Leeman, John R.; Schmitter, E. D. (April 2009). "Electric signals generated by tornados". Atmos. Res. 92 (2): 277–79. Bibcode: 2009AtmRe..92..277L. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2008.10.029. Unlike audible signatures, tornadic signatures have been isolated; due to the long-distance propagation of low-frequency sound, efforts are ongoing to develop tornado prediction and detection devices with additional value in understanding tornado morphology, dynamics, and creation. [47] Tornadoes also produce a detectable seismic signature, and research continues on isolating it and understanding the process. [48] Electromagnetic, lightning, and other effects The eye is a region of mostly calm weather at the center of a tropical cyclone. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area, typically 30–65 kilometers (19–40 miles) in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weather and highest winds of the cyclone occur. The cyclone's lowest barometric pressure occurs in the eye and can be as much as 15 percent lower than the pressure outside the storm. [1]

Velden, Christopher S.; Olander, Timothy L.; Zehr, Raymond M. (1998). "Development of an Objective Scheme to Estimate Tropical Cyclone Intensity from Digital Geostationary Satellite Infrared Imagery". Weather and Forecasting. 13 (1): 172–173. Bibcode: 1998WtFor..13..172V. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.531.6629. doi: 10.1175/1520-0434(1998)013<0172:DOAOST>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 913230. Tornadoes are violent and destructive windstorms that are characterized by a rapidly rotating column of air connecting the surface of the Earth to a cumulonimbus cloud. Most of us are familiar with the ferocity of a tornado's outer winds, which can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour, leaving a path of utter devastation in their wake. Yet, the interior of a tornado, known as the eye or the 'eye wall', presents an entirely different picture. Tornadoes in the dissipating stage can resemble narrow tubes or ropes, and often curl or twist into complex shapes. These tornadoes are said to be "roping out", or becoming a "rope tornado". When they rope out, the length of their funnel increases, which forces the winds within the funnel to weaken due to conservation of angular momentum. [28] Multiple-vortex tornadoes can appear as a family of swirls circling a common center, or they may be completely obscured by condensation, dust, and debris, appearing to be a single funnel. [29]Doswell, Charles A. III (2001-10-01). "What is a tornado?". Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies . Retrieved 2008-05-28.

Tropical Cyclone Structure". JetStream – Online School for Weather. National Weather Service. 2010-01-05. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07 . Retrieved 2006-12-14. A tornado is not necessarily visible; however, the intense low pressure caused by the high wind speeds (as described by Bernoulli's principle) and rapid rotation (due to cyclostrophic balance) usually cause water vapor in the air to condense into cloud droplets due to adiabatic cooling. This results in the formation of a visible funnel cloud or condensation funnel. [21]Abdullah, Abdul (April 1966). "The "Musical" Sound Emitted by a Tornado" " (PDF). Mon. Wea. Rev. 94 (4): 213–20. Bibcode: 1966MWRv...94..213A. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.395.3099. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1966)094<0213:TMSEBA>2.3.CO;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-21. It's important to remember that these observations come from a limited number of survivors and storm chasers. Being inside the eye of a tornado is exceedingly dangerous and not something one should ever attempt. The sudden calm should not be mistaken for the end of the storm, as the deadly winds will resume as soon as the tornado's eye passes. Right now, I feel like I am in the middle of a tornado. There’s been nonstop craziness and misfortune in my life since early summer. Loved ones ill, loved ones dead or dying, my own illness, trying to homeschool my child whilst also trying to run three different businesses whilst also trying to pursue my vocation (writing).

Research programs, including field projects such as the VORTEX projects (Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment), deployment of TOTO (the TOtable Tornado Observatory), Doppler on Wheels (DOW), and dozens of other programs, hope to solve many questions that still plague meteorologists. [47] Universities, government agencies such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory, private-sector meteorologists, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are some of the organizations very active in research; with various sources of funding, both private and public, a chief entity being the National Science Foundation. [112] [139] The pace of research is partly constrained by the number of observations that can be taken; gaps in information about the wind, pressure, and moisture content throughout the local atmosphere; and the computing power available for simulation. [140] About Waterspouts". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2007-01-04 . Retrieved 2009-12-13. One of the most extensive tornado outbreaks on record was the 1974 Super Outbreak, which affected a large area of the central United States and extreme southern Ontario on April 3 and 4, 1974. The outbreak featured 148 tornadoes in 18 hours, many of which were violent; six were of F5 intensity, and twenty-four peaked at F4 strength. Sixteen tornadoes were on the ground at the same time during its peak. More than 300people, possibly as many as 330, were killed. [116] You can see why I barely read anything this month but as I’d like to continue with my end of month reading updates here is what I did read in September: I’m overwhelmed with trying to do so much and not making much progress and yet as the tornado rips through my life, I find myself staring unflinchingly into its eye. There’s this quiet calm that I can sense.National Weather Service (2009-02-03). "15 January 2009: Lake Champlain Sea Smoke, Steam Devils, and Waterspout: Chapters IV and V". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved 2009-06-21. The sky was a vicious shade of greenish grey, the wind was unbelievably loud, and my mother and the other American woman did what one does when a tornado is possibly about to uproot your home. That is, they sought shelter in the basement of the house. The Aussie and the Kiwi on the other hand, ran to the front porch to watch this incredible force of nature, all while their loves screamed at them to seek shelter.