Why does the United States have more tornadoes than other countries?
Tornadoes are more than just a plot in Twister.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The vortex and the updraft move as a coupled system, drawing warm, unstable air from all around the region and moving it upward in expanding spirals. The tornado as seen from the ground is located at the very tip of the cone.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The destructive power of tornadoes is shown in a sequence of twisters moving across rural and urban landscapes.
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Created and produced by QA International. © QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. www.qa-international.comTornadoes possess enormous destructive power.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Why do these storms start popping up in summer?
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Transcript
The United States gets more tornadoes than anywhere else in the world by a long shot. We average 1,200 per year which is more than Canada, Australia and all European countries combined.
Why is that?
It has to do with our unique topography. The center of the United States is pretty+ICY- how do I say this+ICY- flat. Moist warm air moves up from the Gulf of Mexico along the grasslands, and meets dry cold air coming down from Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
This combo leads to an unstable atmosphere that can cause severe thunderstorms to develop. Most destructive tornadoes happen from supercells, rotating thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation.
Since changes in topography can disrupt this clash of atmospheres, the flatness of plains increases the likelihood that tornadoes occur.
So there+IBk-s our solution+ACE- Be less+ICY- Flat.
Hold on, writing to my senator.
Why is that?
It has to do with our unique topography. The center of the United States is pretty+ICY- how do I say this+ICY- flat. Moist warm air moves up from the Gulf of Mexico along the grasslands, and meets dry cold air coming down from Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
This combo leads to an unstable atmosphere that can cause severe thunderstorms to develop. Most destructive tornadoes happen from supercells, rotating thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation.
Since changes in topography can disrupt this clash of atmospheres, the flatness of plains increases the likelihood that tornadoes occur.
So there+IBk-s our solution+ACE- Be less+ICY- Flat.
Hold on, writing to my senator.
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