condensation funnel
Quick Summary
A condensation funnel, often called a funnel cloud, is a visible, tapered column of water droplets extending from the base of a parent cloud. It is a key characteristic of a tornado, though a tornado can exist without a visible funnel. The funnel cloud's size and shape can change, reflecting variations in wind intensity and moisture content. It typically outlines only the innermost core of the tornado's circulation. The formation of a condensation funnel occurs when rising air in the tornado's core cools to its dew point, causing water vapor to condense onto tiny particles called condensation nuclei. This process gives the cloud its characteristic funnel shape.1234
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- tornadoFunnel clouds
Commonly called the condensation funnel, the funnel cloud is a tapered column of water droplets that extends downward from the base of the parent cloud. It is commonly mixed with and perhaps enveloped by dust and debris lifted from the surface. The funnel cloud may be present but…
Read MoreCommonly called the condensation funnel, the funnel cloud is a tapered column of water droplets that extends downward from the base of the parent cloud. It is commonly mixed with and perhaps enveloped by dust and debris lifted from the surface. The funnel cloud may be present but…
Read More - tornadoThe tornado core and the condensation funnel
…at the same elevation, a condensation funnel forms. This occurs because, at lower atmospheric pressure, air flowing upward in the core cools more quickly with increasing height than air rising at higher pressure just outside the core. Assuming that inflowing air has the same amount of moisture throughout, air rising…
Read More…at the same elevation, a condensation funnel forms. This occurs because, at lower atmospheric pressure, air flowing upward in the core cools more quickly with increasing height than air rising at higher pressure just outside the core. Assuming that inflowing air has the same amount of moisture throughout, air rising…
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