How Tornados Develop
General Purpose: To inform my audience about tornadoes
Central Thesis: This speech seeks to highlight what causes tornadoes and discuss different types of tornadoes and occurrences associated with tornadoes.
Pattern of Organization: Topical
Introduction
- Relevance: Although Tornados do happen often in different locations, the primary region in which tornadoes occur in the United States is Iowa. According to a research conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States has experienced over 52 tornadoes since 1950 whereby 6 of these have occurred in Iowa. In his article, Tornadoes Devastate Northwest Iowa 2010, Kari Lucin records one of the worst tornadoes in 2010 that struck the southeast of Sibley region. It was so devastating that it caused damage to Iowa, destroying power lines, trees, and lives. Over 750 people in Northwest Iowa lost power with over 400 of them being in little rock area.
- Reliability: It is significant to conduct this research in that I have so much passion in the weather phenomenon.
- Thesis: To fully understand tornadoes, it is fundamental to explore what makes tornadoes to develop, different types of tornadoes, and peculiar occurrences linked with tornadoes.
Transition: First, this speech will underline the major causes of tornadoes.
Causes of Tornadoes
- According to the article Tornadoes Devastate Northwest Iowa 2013, Lucin argues that tornado conditions occur when different temperature and humidity accumulates to form thunderclouds. This article indicates that thunderstorms are the primary step that causes tornado.
- It is assumed that differences in the vertical wind shear are the major contributors of tornadoes. They mostly occur during the super cell thunderstorms that occur from an intense rotation.
- Researches show that there are different conditions that occur when producing thunderstorms that later forms tornado (Tornado Project Online 1). These include the following.
- Unstable air that continues rising from the ground.
- Lifting force that makes the air to begin rising. It is important to note that, heating of the air is the main lifting force, which explains why some areas experience more thunderstorm than others.
- Air moisture that occurs in the atmosphere from the lower to Middle level.
Transition: Now that we have mentioned the causes of tornadoes, let us now list the types of tornadoes
Types of Tornadoes
According to the Weather Encyclopedia (1), below are the variations of Tornadoes.
- Supercell: These are violent tornadoes brought by the super cell thunderstorms with winds beyond 200 mph.
- Landspout: These tornadoes are weaker than the super cell tornado. They form the leading edge of the rain-cooled air deriving from the thunderstorm commonly known as “gust front”
- Gustnado: These are weak and short lived tornado that appear as a temporary dust.
- Waterspout: This is a tornado that occurs over water. They are less intense and cause few injuries and damages
Transition: Now that we have discussed the causes and types of tornadoes, the following section discusses some of the oddities associated with tornadoes.
The Tornado Project Online reports that the Great Bend, the Kansas Tornado that occurred in November 1915, is the tornado that seems to have the highest number of oddities linked with it because of the following.
- It was unusual season for the violent tornado to occur.
- It was the latest month of the year to have occurred violent tornado in Kansas State
Conclusion
Thus far, this speech has discussed the key causes of tornadoes, different types of tornadoes, and myths associated with tornadoes. This research is significant in that it creates great insights to people on how to identify tornadoes.
Works Cited
Lucin, Kari. “Tornadoes Devastate Northwest Iowa.” McClatchy – Tribune Business News Jun 28 2010 ProQuest. 26 May 2013 . Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/business/docview/521385824/13E4511988C5DF1ADC8/2?accountid=45049
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office. Iowa F5/EF5 Tornadoes, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/?n=f5tornadoesiniowa
Tornado Project Online. Oddities abound in the stories that have been passed down about tornado, 1999. Retrieved from http://www.tornadoproject.com/oddities/odditys.htm
Weather Encyclopedia. Types of Tornadoes, n.d. Retrieved from http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weather_ed/weather_encyclopedia/tornadoes/types_of_tornadoes/