Transition of near-ground rotation and tornado structure during tornadogenesis

What is it about?

Idealized simulations with the Bryan Cloud Model 1 are performed. These simulations indicate that parcels of air develop rotation via different mechanisms before and after tornadogenesis. Hence, a transition of vertical vorticity source mechanisms happens during tornadogenesis as an effect of developing vortex structure.

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Photo by Nikolas Noonan on Unsplash

Photo by Nikolas Noonan on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study offers a unified explanation for the two types of mechanisms for near-ground vertical vorticity generation, which previously have been seen as contradicting, while in fact they both seem to be important at different stages of the tornado life-cycle. This transition could also have important implications for tornado intensity.