Tornado Visualizations
Compiled by Rob Thomas and
John McDaris of
SERC.
Animations and films that illustrate or help students investigate how tornados form, current research about the science involved, and the effects of tornados of different strengths.
Jump to:
Simulations & Films |
Tornado Formation |
Interactive Visualizations |
Maps
Simulations & Films
Catching a Tornado, National Geographic A series of three Flash-based movies captured from a meteorological probe placed in the path of an oncoming tornado, documenting the high wind speeds, the debris carried by the storm, and the motion of the funnel as it passes along the ground. The film features footage from six different on-board cameras, each facing in a different direction to give a 360° view of the storm.
Tornado Research Page, West Virginia University A series of MPEG simulations of tornados, including impressive video simulations of tornados moving through a field of sand particles, illustrating the movement of winds around a tornado. Also available are wireframe models of tornados showing changing internal pressure and 2D representations of internal pressure from a variety of perspectives. In order to view the listing of videos, scroll past the the "Recent Paper" section of the webpage.
Tornado Simulation, National Center for Supercomputing Applications A Flash-based animation of an incredibly detailed tornado simulation, including both particles and ribbons to demonstrate wind motion and the tornado's activity. Moving particles are color coded as they rise and fall, and cone-shaped particles on the ground show the direction of the wind's pull at the Earth's surface. Visually stunning, and information rich, this animation was originally produced for use in an episode of the PBS series NOVA.
Tornado-forming supercell simulation, National Center for Supercomputing Applications A Flash-based animation of a simulation of a supercell thunderstorm that forms a tornado. This rendering is designed to show cloud movement as the storm forms, including the formation of the vortex and the subsequent updraft of the thunderstorm. This animation is another originally produced for use in an episode of the PBS series NOVA.
Examine an animation of a tornado, McDougal Littell A Flash-based computer simulation of the movement of air within the vortex of a tornado. The 3D tornado is color-coded by air pressure, and air motion can be seen as the tornado picks up marker particles and carries them through the vortex. Buildings can also be overlaid on the tornado in order to give a sense of the size of the simulated vortex.
Tornado Simulations, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center MPEG simulations of tornados, including 3D models of both wind movement using particles, and 3D models of pressure changes and motion within the vortex. This series of four visualizations demonstrates these tornadic features using different rendering techniques and different particles moving within the storm.
Supercell Thunderstorm Simulations, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center A series of three MPEG videos showing simulations of supercell thunderstorms and the funnel clouds and tornados that the thunderstorms generate. These visualizations demonstrate how clouds move throughout the life of a tornado, allowing the viewer to see how winds shift during the formation of a funnel cloud.
May Thunderstorm Simulations, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center This series of MPEG videos shows simulations of thunderstorms based on data gathered in Oklahoma in May 1995. The simulations highlight vortices formed in the thunderstorm as red clouds, as these areas have a high likelihood of forming tornados. The simulation also shows wind speed and direction, and the motion of the storm.
Tornado/Microburst Simulator, Iowa State This Windows Media Video uses dry ice and particles to show the flow of air within the Iowa State Tornado Simulator, used for testing models as in a wind tunnel. The video offers a chance to see air motion within the funnel, and also observe how the vortex moves as the tornado speeds across the simulated ground.
Tornado Formation
Tornado Wind Patterns, Prentice Hall A Flash animation demonstrating how wind patterns lead to the formation of tornados. First, vertical wind shear leads to air spinning parallel to the ground. If an updraft then occurs, a thunderstorm forms and moves the spinning air into a vertical position, potentially creating a full-blown tornado.
Birth of a Tornado, MSNBC A Flash-based slide show that uses animation to show how winds combine to create the possibility of a tornado within a supercell storm. The feature explains how atmoshperic conditions increase the likelihood of tornados, and where tornados are most likely to form within a storm.
How Tornadoes Form, USA Today A Flash-based interactive using diagrams to explain, in simple terms, how and under what conditions tornados form. Also included are tips for tornado safety: indoors, outdoors, and, specifically, near overpasses.
Interactive Visualizations
Tornado Paths, University of Michigan Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic & Space Sciences This website catalogs all the tornado paths in the United States between 1950 and 2004 (in it's initial form). The tornado path data is overlaid onto a Google Maps base for easy browsing and manipulation of the map view. Clicking on individual tornados provides the user with information such as its Fujita rating, the amount of damage caused by the tornado, the size of the path that the tornado made, and the length of time the tornado was on the ground.
Interactive Twister, The Why Files, University of Wisconsin This Java applet allows students to determine the size and core pressure difference of a tornado, and unleash it on trees, a trailer, a house, a car, and a cow to see its destructive effects. After the simulated storm, students are asked to asses the magnitude of the tornado using the F-scale, showing the relationship of size, core pressure difference, and the resulting damage.
Rate Tornado Damage, NOVA An interactive Flash animation that educates students about the Fujita scale for rating tornado wind speeds and the damage caused by tornados. After being presented with photographs of tornado damage, students are challenged to assign the tornado a rating on the F-scale. The interactive explains the different levels of the F-scale and provides instant feedback on whether or not the correct category was assigned to the tornado.
Maps
Animations of Severe Weather Annual Cycle, National Severe Storm Laboratory This collection of Java applets uses animated maps of the United States to illustrate the probability of severe weather for each week of an average year. The maps help to illustrate how the likelihood of tornados changes over the course of a year and how the chances of tornados vary by region. Maps are available to show the probability of any tornado, or the probability of only significant and violent tornados.
Time Series of Tornado Probability, National Severe Storm Laboratory An interactive United States map that generates graphs illustrating the seasonal probabilities of tornados for locations across the US. The graphs illustrate the average likelihood of tornados over a 75-year period, along with the changing probability of tornados over 15-year periods from 1921 to 1995. By clicking the appropriate map region, graphs can be generated for specific locations within the US.
Storm Report Map This website overlays each day's storms as they occur on a Google Map, pinpointing the location where tornados occurred. The site has data since 5 May 2004, and any day since can be consulted. For particularly impressive sets of tornados, try 2 April 2006 or 12 November 2005.
