Extreme weather:Tornadoes

Asa cum se stie, fenomenele naturii sau natura in sine joaca un rol foarte imporant in viata noastra.De fapt, fortei naturii nu se poate impotrivii nimeni si cu atat mai putin sa o si opreasca. Asadar, acestor fenomene extreme ale naturii nu ne putem opune dar putem sa invatam sa convietuim cu ele si totodata putem invata cum sa ne protejam de ele.

Pentru inceput ,din toate fenomenele extreme posibile am ales tornadele deoarece mi se par foarte fascinante si interesante……asta pe langa faptul ca inca mai sunt multe mistere de deslusit despre tornade…..but first of all What’s a tornado?…. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm base.

Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world , at any time of the year, but they are most common in the United States. About 800-1200 tornadoes occur in the U.S. each year although most occur in uninhabited areas.(but although they are so frequently in USA, they aren’t the number one weather killer.On the first place,there are the flash floods: 4629; on the second place: lightning: 3221; and only on the 3rd place: tornadoes: 2734) A large proportion of United States tornadoes strike in an area known as Tornado Alley, which stretches from northwest Texas, across Oklahoma and Kansas.

Cateva recorduri/Some tornado records…..

The most extreme tornado in recorded history was the Tri-State tornado which roared through parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925. It was likely an F5, though tornadoes were not ranked on any scale in that era. It holds records for longest path length (219 miles, 352 km), longest duration (about 3.5 hours), and fastest forward speed for a significant tornado (73 mph, 117 km/h) anywhere on earth. In addition, it is the deadliest single tornado in United States history (695 dead).

The most extensive tornado outbreak on record, in almost every category, was the Super Outbreak, which affected a large area of the central United States and extreme southern Ontario in Canada on April 3 and April 4, 1974. Not only did this outbreak feature an incredible 148 tornadoes in only 18 hours, but an unprecedented number of them were violent; six were of F5 intensity, and twenty-four F4. This outbreak had a staggering sixteen tornadoes on the ground at the same time at the peak of the outbreak. More than 300 people, possibly as many as 330, were killed by tornadoes during this outbreak.

As I have always wanted to learn more things about tornadoes and because I consider that twisters are the most fascinating storms on the Earth, I would like to share with you some myths about tornadoes .

1. We should open windows if a tornado is approaching.

(FALSE: STAY AWAY from all windows. It won’t make any difference whether the windows are open or closed IF your home is struck by a tornado).

2.A tornado moves always to the northeast.

(FALSE:This is false, and a potentially deadly myth which can lead to a false sense of security).

3.Tornadoes do not form in the winter, nor do they form in colder latitudes or on different continents than North America.

(FALSE:Tornadoes that form in winter are rare,but, however, they are possible.Also, tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world.)

4.Tornadoes can’t/don’t hit big cities.

(FALSE:the downtown Atlanta has been struck by a tornato this year, and many others big cities have been struck by tornadoes).

5.Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.

(False:No place is safe from tornadoes.Many tornadoes have crossed rivers, mountains & lakes, with out any effect to the tornado.)

Nu stiu daca va-ti gandit vreodata cum ar fi sa traiti un astfel de fenomen pe viu sau sa va puneti in situatia acelor oameni a caror case sunt in drumul unei tornade si care stiu cu siguranta nu vor scapa de furia acesteia……totusi, multi oameni daca sunt intrebati ce vor face intr-o astfel de situatie , unii dintre ei vor raspunde cu certitudine ca au un plan bine stabilit , pe cand majoritatea nu au nici o idee despre ceea ce vor face in acel moment.Astfel, din cauza tratarii cu superficialitate sau neacordarii de suficienta atentie unei astfel de situatii, multi oameni pierd timp pretios in salvarea lor din calea dezastrului.Pe langa tot acest dezinteres care apare in multe cazuri, atunci cand din senin te trezesti cu o tornada care in cateva minute va lovi casa ta, apare sentimentul de teama, frica, neliniste si nesiguranta care pur si simplu daca nu ai un plan stabilit dinainte, nu mai stii ce sa faci.De aceea eu cred ca tornadele trebuie tratate cu respectul cuvenit, ca de altfel ca orice fenomen al naturii.