Table of Contents
- 1 How do pressure differences explain destructive effects of a tornadoes winds?
- 2 What is the percentage of gases found within 10km of earth’s surface?
- 3 How do pressure and temperature change from Earth’s surface to the top of the thermosphere?
- 4 What gases make up 1% atmosphere?
- 5 How do wind and pressure affect the strength of a tornado?
- 6 What causes destructive winds?
- 7 How is the wind speed of a tornado determined?
- 8 What is the surface pressure of a tornado?
How do pressure differences explain destructive effects of a tornadoes winds?
Wind Speed and Air Pressure Strong winds pick up smaller, more mobile objects and move them, and can knock down smaller structures. The lower pressure within the tornado wreaks havoc on larger structures by creating a pressure differential between the exterior and interior of the structure.
What is the percentage of gases found within 10km of earth’s surface?
Chapter 21
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere? | Atmosphereic Pressure. |
| The percentage of gases found within 10km of Earth’s surface is _____. | 80 |
| The force that holds the atmosphere in place is _______. | Gravity |
| What is the number of newtons pressing on every square centimeter of your body? | 10. |
What air pressure and wind directions are present in tornadoes?
When viewed from above, the majority of tornadoes rotate counterclockwise (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). About 1% of tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate clockwise. The center of a tornado is characterized by low pressure, which is typically 10-20 percent lower than the surrounding air pressure.
What are damaging winds?
Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for half of all severe reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes. Wind speeds can reach up to 100 mph and can produce a damage path extending for hundreds of miles.
How do pressure and temperature change from Earth’s surface to the top of the thermosphere?
How do pressure and temperature change from Earth’s surface to the top of the thermosphere? Pressure is lower at higher altitudes; temperature is highest in the outer atmosphere.
What gases make up 1% atmosphere?
Composition of the atmosphere The principal components of the atmosphere are nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with the remaining 1% of the atmosphere being made up of argon (0.9%), carbon dioxide (0.037%) and trace amounts of other gases.
How does air pressure affect tornadoes?
Tornadoes, also called twisters, are columns of air rotating dangerously fast. The air is in motion because of the difference in pressure between the center of the tornado (very low pressure) and the outer edge of the tornado (high pressure). Other, massive tornadoes can be up to two miles across.
What happens to air pressure during a tornado?
The central vortex of a tornado is typically about 328.1 ft (100 m) in diameter. They also cause the air pressure in the tornado to drop below normal atmospheric pressure by over 100 millibars (the normal day-to-day pressure variations we experience are about 15 millibars).
How do wind and pressure affect the strength of a tornado?
The air is in motion because of the difference in pressure between the center of the tornado (very low pressure) and the outer edge of the tornado (high pressure). Weak tornadoes usually last less than 10 minutes, have winds less than 100 mph (160 kph) and cause damage such as broken tree branches and damaged roofs.
What causes destructive winds?
Damaging winds are often called “straight-line” winds to differentiate the damage they cause from tornado damage. Most thunderstorm winds that cause damage at the ground are a result of outflow generated by a thunderstorm downdraft. Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph.
How is a tornado different from a thunderstorm?
What is a tornado? A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris. Tornadoes can be among the most violent phenomena of all atmospheric storms we experience.
What kind of damage does a tornado do?
Property Damage. Another significant effect tornadoes have on humans is the property damage. Weak tornadoes can take the roofs off buildings and break windows. Stronger tornadoes have been shown to level buildings. This can have a considerable economic impact.
How is the wind speed of a tornado determined?
The Enhanced Fujita Scale. From the amount of damage a tornado causes, scientists are able to determine the approximate wind speed within the tornado. An EF0 has a wind speed between 65 and 85 miles per hour, which can tear branches off trees or shatter windows with debris. An EF5 has speeds greater than 200 miles per hour.
What is the surface pressure of a tornado?
Even for violent tornadoes, the reduction in surface pressure in this area (relative to surface pressure in the surrounding atmosphere) is probably no more than 100 hectopascals (that is, about 10 percent of standard atmospheric pressure at sea level). In most tornadoes, the reduction in central surface pressure is not that great.