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2009/01/08 Kortabitarte Egiguren, Irati - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Klima

Two scientists at the University of Oklahoma have found that, depending on the size of raindrops or hail, these clouds can cause a storm or tornado that occurs with thunderbolts. Different HD simulations have been carried out by computer.

Tornadoes are violent wind swirls that form by joining warm, humid air masses with the cold air mass. According to Oklahoma meteorologists, in general the types of clouds that cause tornadoes are very sensitive to the size of water drops. If water drops are relatively large, the air mass quickly adopts a cyclonic appearance. These drops are less easy to evaporate and the air does not cool so easily. On the contrary, small drops of water tend to evaporate by cooling the air.

According to all these studies, small drops of water increase evaporation and therefore decrease the risk of tornado formation. All these discoveries will help us better understand those violent storms. However, scientists still have to work hard until they manage to control or predict tornadoes.

Photo: billypalooza