- In recent years, many tornadoes have formed across India. A warming Bay of Bengal, heated land and strange wind patterns could be a reason behind this.
- Tornado is land-based vertical column of violently rotating air that extends from thunderstorm to ground.
- It can have wind speeds in range of 105-322 Km/hr.
- They develop from severe thunderstorms in warm, moist, unstable air along and ahead of cold fronts.
- Thunderstorms are severe local storms associated with thunder, lightning, heavy rain, hail, strong winds etc.
- Tornadoes are most common in United States, Argentina and Bangladesh.
- In India, these are reported in eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand during pre-monsoon period.
- India is known for formation of Tropical Cyclones.
Parameters | Tropical Cyclones | Tornadoes |
Size and Scale | Can span hundreds of miles and affect vast areas. | Size is only a few hundred yards in diameter. |
Wind Shear | Require very low values of tropospheric vertical shear. | Require substantial vertical shear of horizontal winds. |
Temperature Gradient | Generated in regions of near-zero horizontal temperature gradient. | Produced in regions of large temperature gradient. |
Area of Formation | Purely an oceanic phenomenon. | Primarily developed over land. |
Time-Scale | Lifetime that is measured in days. | Typically lasts on the scale of minutes. |
Impact | Heavy rainfall, storm surges, and widespread flooding. | Cause Localized destruction. |
