| Concept URI | http://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/concept/8516 |
|---|---|
| Preferred label | tornado |
| Definition | A rapidly rotating column of air developed around a very intense low-pressure centre. It is associated with a dark funnel-shaped cloud and with extremely violent winds (>300km/h) blowing in a counterclockwise spiral, but accompanied by violent downdraughts. The precise mechanisms are not fully understood but the following atmospheric conditions appear to be necessary for tornado development: a layer of warm moist air at low altitude; a layer of dry air at higher altitude with an inversion of temperature at about 1.000 m; a triggering mechanism, usually in the form of an active, intense cold front or solar heating of the ground which will create a vortex. |
| Notation | |
| Status | Valid |
| Status Modified | 2013-12-05 |
| Accepted Date | 2013-12-05 |
| Not Accepted Date | |
| Alternative label | |
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| Source |
European Environment Agency
Kgs. Nytorv 6, DK-1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark