Context:
A devastating tornado recently hit the Mainaguri area in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, lasting for approximately 10 minutes. The natural disaster resulted in the tragic loss of five lives, with more than 100 people sustaining injuries. The event highlights the destructive power of tornadoes and underscores the urgent need for preparedness and response measures in vulnerable regions.
Relevance:
GS I: Geography
About Tornado
- Definition: A tornado is a terrestrial vertical column of intensely rotating air that originates from a thunderstorm and extends to the ground. It can reach wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 kilometres per hour.
- Appearance: The rotating column is typically connected to the cloud base or wall cloud, often manifesting as a cloud-filled “condensation funnel”. In drier conditions, tornadoes may only be visible as ground-level dirt swirls without a clear link to the overhead cloud.
- Sea Counterpart: A tornado occurring over the sea is termed as a waterspout.
- Formation: Thunderstorms and tornadoes are generated when warm, moist air collides with dry, cooler air within the context of a low-pressure system, such as a trough.
Geographical Distribution of Tornadoes
- Primary Regions: Tornadoes are most prevalent on continents within the mid-latitudes, which span between 20 and 60 degrees north and south. These occurrences are often linked to thunderstorms forming at the convergence of cold polar and warm tropical air masses.
- Hotspots: The United States, Argentina, and Bangladesh experience the highest frequency of tornadoes globally.
Measurement of Tornado Strength
- Enhanced Fujita Scale: This scale is employed to gauge the intensity of tornadoes. It assigns a ‘rating’ to each tornado based on estimated wind speeds and the resulting damage.
-Source: Indian Express
