Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Geography / Bimal K. Paul / Given the recent recognition that not only physical processes, but social, political and economic aspects of hazards determine vulnerability and impact of an event, the next logical step would seem to be the development of classification systems that address those factors. Classifications for natural disasters, such as the Fujita Scale for tornadoes and the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, focus on the physical properties of the event, not the impact on a community. Pre-event vulnerability to a natural hazard is determined by many factors, such as age, race, income and gender, as well as infrastructure such as density of the built environment and health of the industrial base. The behavior of residents in the community, construction quality of shelters and warning system effectiveness also affect vulnerability. If pre-event vulnerability is to be determined by such factors, post-event impact should, at least in part, be as well. The goal of this research was to develop the Tornado Impact-Community Vulnerability Index (TICV) that utilizes variables such as the number of persons killed, economic impacts and social vulnerability to describe to the level of impact a tornado event has on community. As tornadoes that strike unpopulated areas are often difficult to classify, even in the traditional sense, the TICV will take into consideration only events that strike communities with defined political boundaries, or “places” according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By assigning a rating to the impact, this index will allow the severity of the storm to be understood in terms of its effect on a specific community and hence its impact, rather than an physically-based rating that gives only a broad, general indication of its physical strength.

A tornado is a violent rotating column of air hanging from the cloud base of a thunderstorm. They occur most frequently in the United States, about 1000 tornadoes every year, but they can also take place in other parts of the world. For a tornado to arise the atmosphere has to be in a specific state. The state includes a steep lapse rate, a significant difference in wind speed between the ground and at 1 km altitude and moisture represented by a low cloud base level. With these three parameters present there is a good chance that a tornado will form. A tornado alone is not possible to predict with the technology that is available today, but the parameters that were just mentioned are. With climate models and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP-scenarios) the future climate can be investigated based on greenhouse gas emissions among other things. In this research occurrence of the three parameters in the area of the United States with most tornado activity during a period of 30 years in present time was compared to a period of 30 years in the future for two different RCP-scenarios. The result was calculated to see how many times and days the three parameters occurred both at the same time and individually. It was seen that the amount of times they occurred corresponded to what was expected from the theory, about 1000 every year for both time periods. Thereby no difference was seen in the frequency of tornadoes today compared to any of the future scenarios. A difference that could be determined however was the amount of days in which they occurred. The criteria for a tornado was met in 623 days for present time, compared to RCP 8.5, which is the RCP-scenario with the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, where the criteria was met 655 days. RCP 2.6 that is the least devastating scenario with the smallest amount of greenhouse gas emissions had the lowest amount of 604 possible tornado days. / En tromb är ett väderfenomen som består av en intensivt roterande luftpelare mellan ett åskmoln och jordytan. De förekommer över hela världen men är vanligast i USA där det bryter ut ungefär 1000 stycken varje år. För att en tromb ska uppstå krävs det att atmosfären i området har några speciella egenskaper. Den ska vara instabilt skiktad, vilket kan förknippas med ett kraftigt temperaturavtagande med höjd, ha stor skillnad i vindhastighet mellan marken och 1 km upp, samt ha hög relativ luftfuktighet vilket indikeras av en låg molnbas. Är dessa tre kriterier uppfyllda samtidigt finns en möjlighet för en tromb att bildas. Enskilda trombers existens kan inte förutspås med dagens teknik eftersom de är kortlivade väderfenomen och inte en del av ett större vädersammanhang. Med dagens klimatmodeller och Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP-scenarier) kan däremot olika väderparametrars förekomst i framtiden undersökas bl.a. med avseende på mängden utsläpp av växthusgaser.      I den här studien har de tre ovan nämnda parametrarnas förekomst analyserats för det mest trombdrabbade området i USA och jämförts under en 30-årsperiod i nutid med en 30-årsperiod i framtiden för två olika RCP-scenarier. Resultatet togs fram utifrån hur många tillfällen och dagar som de tre parametrarna uppfylldes både enskilt och samtidigt. Antalet tillfällen de uppfylldes samtidigt motsvarade statistiken över trombförekomst relativt bra med ungefär 1000 gånger per år i båda tidsperioderna. Det var därmed ingen större skillnad mellan antalet potentiella tromber idag jämfört med något av RCP-scenarierna i framtiden. Däremot var det en viss skillnad på hur många dagar det finns en chans att det bildas tromber. Kriterierna uppfylldes under 623 dagar i nutid jämfört med 655 dagar i RCP-8.5, vilket är scenariot med störst andel utsläpp av växthusgaser. Under RCP-2.6, det mildaste scenariot med minst utsläpp, uppfylldes kriterierna under 604 dagar, färre än både nutid och RCP 8.5.

Tornado simulations in the visual effects industry have always been an interesting problem. Developing tools to provide more control over such effects is an important and challenging task. Current methods to achieve these effects use either particle systems or fluid simulation. Particle systems give a lot of control over the simulation but do not take into account the fluid characteristics of tornadoes. The other method which involves fluid simulation models the fluid behavior accurately but does not give control over the simulation. In this thesis, a novel method to model tornado behavior is presented. A tool based on this method was also created. The method proposed in this thesis uses a hybrid approach that combines the flexibility of particle systems while producing interesting swirling motions inherent in the fluids. The main focus of the research is on providing easy-to-use controls for art directors to help them achieve the desired look of the simulation effectively. A variety of controls is provided which include the overall shape, path, rotation, debris, surface, swirling motion, and interaction with the environment. The implementation was done in Houdini, which is a 3D animation software whose node based system allows an algorithmic approach to the problem and integrates well with the current tools. The tool allows the user to create animations that reflect the visual characteristics of real tornadoes. The usefulness of the tool was evaluated among participants who had some experience in 3D animation software. The results from the simulation and evaluation feedback reveal that the tool successfully allowed the users to create tornadoes of their choice efficiently.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Geosciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

While in a typical year, approximately 1,000 tornadoes occur within the contiguous United States, the number is highly variable from 700 to almost 1200. This variability is not easily forecast on a yearly basis. ,Through the application of teleconnection patterns such as the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Pacific-North America Pattern (PNA), it is shown that relationships exist between the phase of these large-scale atmospheric circulation anomalies and tornado frequency in different regions of the United States. Correlation analysis for each phase of the different patterns show that regionality exists when considenng the pattern's correlations with tornado frequency. These patterns are reasonably explained through the use of NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data. The most interesting result from this study is that the NAO and PNA patterns yielded similar stateby-state correlation patterns, suggesting that the two patterns may be linked as has been suggested by prior research. / Department of Geography

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-212).

Orientadores: Luci Hidalgo Nunes, Gerhard Held / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T21:23:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Candido_DanielHenrique_D.pdf: 12040471 bytes, checksum: 47011ad1ee58b830a779d18c7c681dac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O registro de tornados e trombas-d'água no Brasil têm aumentado de forma substancial nos últimos anos. Embora as alterações antrópicas tenham papel fundamental para a elevação de tais ocorrências, uma vez que mais calor disponível significa maior instabilidade atmosférica, há de se considerar que a expansão urbana e o espraiamento da população faça com que os registros visuais desses fenômenos se tornem mais frequentes. Assim, este estudo avaliou a distribuição espacial do fenômeno em território brasileiro por meio do desenvolvimento de um modelo capaz de utilizar parâmetros climatológicos e geomorfológicos para definir os riscos de ocorrência de episódios tornádicos em diferentes setores do Brasil. Tal modelo foi obtido mediante aplicação de técnicas de geoprocessamento, adotando para isso ferramentas de SIG. O trabalho também apresenta a listagem de todos os eventos em território nacional, bem como a proposição de uma nova classificação dos fenômenos relacionados a ventos intensos, uma vez que os modelos atualmente adotados desconsideram as particularidades das estruturas existentes no país, sendo necessária a adoção de uma escala mais adequada à realidade brasileira. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o setor centro-sul do país apresenta elevado risco de ocorrência do fenômeno, sendo que os estados de São Paulo, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul são particularmente mais afetados / Abstract: The number of tornadoes and waterspouts recorded in Brazil has increased substantially in recent years. Anthropic alterations have key role in the increase of such occurrences, due to more heat being available, which in turn increases the atmospheric instability. But on the other hand, it should also be considered that the urban sprawl as well as an increase in population may result in such phenomena being observed more frequently. Thus, this study seeks to elucidate the spatial distribution of the phenomenon in Brazil by developing a model capable of using climatological and geomorphological parameters to capture the risk of occurrence of tornadoes in different parts of Brazil. This model was developed by applying geoprocessing techniques, adopting GIS tools for this task. The work also presents a list of all events recorded in the national territory. Furthermore, a new classification of events is proposed, since the current methods ignore the particularities of the existing structures in the country, necessitating the adoption of a scale more suitable to the Brazilian reality. Results show that the south-central sector of the country presents a high risk of occurrence of these phenomena, with the states of São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul in particular being more affected / Doutorado / Análise Ambiental e Dinâmica Territorial / Doutor em Ciências

Thesis. 1978. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Meteorology. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 159-160. / M.S.

During 2007 – 2015, a total of 2,359 tornado watches were issued by the Storm Prediction Center and 10,840 tornadoes were confirmed. The objective of the first part of this study analyzed the accuracy of tornado watches for the nine-year period of 2007 – 2015. In addition to accuracy, fatalities, lead times, valid watch times, and areas were calculated for each tornado watch. 58.80% of the tornado watches had at least one tornado inside the tornado watch and 27.43% had at least one tornado outside the tornado watch. Of the 10,840 tornadoes, 56.70% were inside a tornado watch, 9.69% were outside a tornado watch, and 33.62% occurred when there was no tornado watch in effect. The average valid time for a tornado watch was 6 hours and 50 minutes and the average lead time for a tornado was 2 hours and 8 minutes. The second objective utilized a survey to determine participant knowledge and better understand “watch severity response”. A majority of the survey respondents accurately identified the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. Most of the respondents described their weather knowledge as ‘moderately knowledgeable,’ ‘very knowledgeable,’ or ‘slightly knowledgeable.’ TV meteorologists, the NWS, and weather apps are the most common sources for daily weather information and information regarding a tornado watch. 81.63% of the respondents correctly identified if they were under a tornado watch during 2016. As the severity of the watch or the length of the activity increased, the likelihood of the respondent continuing the activity decreased. 38.87%, 54.76%, and 79.18% of the respondents ‘probably would not’ or ‘definitely would not’ continue an activity, lasting any duration, during a severe thunderstorm watch, a tornado watch, or a PDS tornado watch, respectively. The final objective attempts to categorize simple economic response to various watch severity types. The percent of respondents who would not continue an activity, based on the severity of the watch, was applied to a variety of watches that occurred during 2016. The economic loss associated with a watch ranged from $498,332.15 – $107,126,919.19.

Tornadoes are always dangerous, but inside a motor vehicle they are especially problematic due to an automobile’s smaller size and structure. Tornado fatalities in motor vehicles have not decreased in recent years despite downward trends in total tornado fatalities. Receiving tornado warnings is difficult inside a motor vehicle, particularly when alone in the vehicle. Controlled access highways are also difficult places to find shelter as access is limited to interchanges, while buildings at interchanges may not be able to withstand an intense tornado. Electronic signs and audible messages on mobile communications devices are the most suitable technologies available for reaching motorists. At each interchange, shelters capable of withstanding a violent tornado should be constructed or retrofitted, allowing motorists – and nearby residents – a safe place to shelter nearby. Constructing such shelters will take considerable time and significant cost but will go a long way towards the goal of a Weather-Ready Nation.