Science Common Sense

915 - What is a tornado, and how do they develop?

A tornado is a spinning column of air that forms during thunderstorms. It can cause damage and destruction as it touches the ground.

Tornadoes develop when a combination of warm and cold air meet in the sky. Here's how it happens:

1. Warm air rises: When the sun heats the ground, it warms the air closest to the earth.
2. Cool air moves in: At the same time, cooler air moves in above the warm air.
3. Swirling motion: As the warm air rises and the cool air moves in, it creates a spinning motion in the air.
4. Thunderstorm forms: As the air continues to spin, a thunderstorm forms, and a tall cloud called a cumulonimbus cloud grows.
5. Tornado touches down: If the conditions are right, the spinning motion can extend all the way to the ground, creating a tornado.

Think of it like a giant spinning top in the sky, and when it touches the ground, it can cause a lot of damage.