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Section 4
Supercell - Most Devastating
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Supercells are formed from what type of cloud? | thunderhead clouds |
| A giant moving thunderstorm that can create a tornado is called what? | supercell |
| What is the name for a powerful vortex of rising air that is the engine for a tornado? | mesocyclone |
| The "tail" of a supercell can be twisted into a tube that will develop into a mesocyclone because of high-level winds from behind and ____________ from the front. a) meanders b) polar easterlies c) surface winds d) downdrafts | c) surface winds |
| Where in the United States are supercells most common? | in the central part |
| What two things are required for supercells to form? | Enough wind shear and instability in the atmosphere |
| At what time of day do most supercells form? | the late afternoon |
| What are two forms of intense downdrafts that can come from a supercell? | microbursts and macrobursts |
| Which produces stronger winds - a microburst or a macroburst? | microburst |
| What are the two types of microbursts? | Wet and dry |
| A macroburst is at least how many miles wide? | 2.5 |
| What is the maximum wind speed that can be generated by a supercell? | 250 miles per hour |
| In a mesocyclone, where are icy downdrafts and heavy rain fount- in the front or in the rear? | in the front |
| The warm downdraft of a mesocyclone can be found where- at the front or the rear of the storm? | at the rear |
| Intense downdrafts called microbursts and macrobursts turn into what on the ground? | damaging winds |
| Our book names some warning signs of a coming tornado. Which of the following is NOT one of them? a) greenish sky b) sun halos c) dark, low-lying clouds d) large hail e) loud roar | b) sun halos |
| How long do most tornadoes last? | 10-15 minutes |
| Where is the saftest place to take shelter from a tornado? | underground |
| What is the name of the scale that measures the strength of tornadoes? | the Enhanced Fujita scale |
| What is the lowest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale? | EF0 |
| What is the highest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale? | EF5 |
| A tornado forms when a vortex is pushed back toward the ground by what? | cool downdrafts |
| What is the name for a violently spinning funnel of air descending from a supercell. | tornado |
| What movie marks the first time an authentic-looking tornado had been seen on-screen? | The Wizard of Oz |
| What is the name for a type of tornado that forms over water? | waterspouts |
| If a tornado starts out over the land, but moves out to sea, it will become what? | a waterspout |
| What places sees more waterspouts than anywhere else? | The Florida Keys |
| What three U.S. states were affected by the deadliest tornado in U.S. history? | Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana |
| What was the deadliest tornado in US history? | the Tri-State Tornado |
| How many people were killed by the Tri-State Tornado? | 695 |
| In today's money, how much damage did the Tri-State Tornado cause? | 1.6 billion dollars |
| Approximately how many tornadoes strike the United States each year? | 1000 |
| "Tornado Alley" runs between which two mountain ranges? | The Rockies and the Appalachians |
| Over the last four decades, "tornado alley" in the United States seems to be shifting in which direction? | to the east |
| Why was the word "tornado" banned from weather forecasts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? | to prevent panic |
| In what state was the oldest photograph of a tornado taken? | South Dakota |
| Which of the following is NOT one of the main states that form Tornado Alley? a) Oklahoma b) Texas c) Nebraska d) Iowa e) Missouri | e) Missouri |
| When the National Weather Services issues a tornado watch it means people should be prepared. What does a tornado warning mean? | it means people should take action |
| Which of the following is NOT true of twin twisters? a) they spin at the same EF speed b) they are produced by the same storm c) they spin independently of each other d) they spin at different EF speeds e) they are rare | a) they spin at the same EF speed |
| In twin tornadoes, the weaker of the two is described as what? | a "satellite" tornado |
| What was the likely rating on the Fujita Scale for the Tri-State Tornado? And why doesn't it have an official Fujita Scale rating? | EF5. The Fujita Scale was not introduced until 1971 (the Tri-State tornado occurred in 1925) |
| A multi-vortex tornado has at least how many smaller tornadoes swirling around the main vortex? | at least two |
| What type of tornado was the one that struck Joplin, Missouri in 2011? | I will accept either multi-vortex or EF5 for this question |
| What is the name for an area of high reflectivity at the end of a storm's hook? | debris ball |
| What type of tool is used by storm chasers to measure wind speed and direction? | anemometer |
| What technology was used to make the first 3D maps of tornado winds and the first maps of multiple vortex structures in tornadoes? | DOW (dopplers on wheels) radar |
| What tool or device is the key part of a DOW vehicle? | the radar dish |
| What tool or device on a DOW vehicle gathers atmospheric data and sends it to the onboard computer? | the radar dish |
| What type of waves are transmitted by a radar dish? | radio waves |
| What information can be gathered by a radar dish on a DOW vehicle? a) how much precipitation there is b) what particles are present in the atmosphere c) wind speed d) Both A and B e) none of the above | d) Both A and B |
| Which of the following was used to film the inside of a tornado? a) The National Severe Storms Laboratory mobile command truck b) DOW 7 owned by the Center for Severe Weather Research c) Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV 2) d) NSSL's Mobile Mesonet Probe vehicle e) Rapid X-Pol | c) Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV 2) |
| In what two parts of the world can a blizzard develop when the polar jet stream meanders south in the winter? | North America and Siberia |
| What did the term "blizzard" mean before it was used to describe a severe snow storm? | a volley of rifle shots |
| How fast does the wind speed need to be in order for a storm to be described as a blizzard? | at least 35 miles per hour |
| How long does a severe snow storm need to last in order to be described as a blizzard? | at least 3 hours |
| In the polar regions, what term is used when the snow coverage is so thick that nothing casts a shadow, the horizon isn't visible, and only dark objects are discernible? | a whiteout |
| Does it need to be snowing for a blizzard to occur? | No- fierce wind can lift snow and ice already on the ground |
| What blizzard, which occurred in 1888, is considered one of the most tragic blizzards of all? | The Children's Blizzard |
| The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route that passes through Mt. Tateyama in the Japanese Alps has what nickname? | the "roof of Japan" |
| What is the term for the way the air feels much colder when the wind is blowing? | wind chill |
| Which of the following are true of the "Superstorm of '93"? a) it had Category 5 hurricane winds b) it caused 11 billion dollars in damage c) it killed more than 300 people d) roads and airports were closed for days e) all of the above | e) all of the above |
| When the Children's Blizzard of 1888 struck, why were so many people caught out in the open in light clothing? a) they were skeptical of reports of an approaching blizzard b) the blizzard struck in June, which is unusual c) there had been a spell of mild weather before the blizzard d) heavy winter clothing didn't exist in 1888 e) the residents of the area were all extremely poor | c) there had been a spell of mild weather before the blizzard |
| What is the world's biggest source of windblown dust? | the Sahara desert |
| Why are dust storms all over the world often called haboobs? | because the "haboobs" of Southern Sudan are so famous |
| What are two ways in which camels can protect their eyes during a haboob? | they have a third, clear eyelid and two rows of long lashes |
| How do camels prevent sand from blowing into their noses during a haboob? | they shut their nostrils |
| When a desert experiences a weather front where cold air undercuts hot, dry air, what type of weather event can result? | a haboob |
| According to our book, how many Category 5 hurricanes have ever hit the U.S.? | five |
| During the Great Blizzard of 1888, there were 400 deaths. How many of those deaths occurred in New York City? | 200 |
| What type of natural disaster affects more people globally than any other natural disaster? | drought |
| What is one effect of prolonged drought? | economic hardship, increased wildfire risk, spread of disease |
| In an average August, where do 70% of worldwide wildfires occur? | Africa |
| What caused the massive debris avalanche that destroyed a village in Southern Leyte, Philippines in February 2006? | 10 days of heavy rain and a minor earthquake |
| In what year did both the Children's Blizzard and The Great Blizzard occur in the United States? | 1888 |
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St Rita SD
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