Bill Tabor
EF5
[MOD: Split from 4/22/2010 DISC thread]
Jeff, thanks for that link. Very nice!
As for tornado defs...this would likely make a good 'Weather and Chasing' category theme cause I'm sure everyone has their own feelings and reasons. I'd probably only call it a separate tornado if an initial tornado / rotation region occluded and then a new circulation such as to ne appeared and dropped a tube. If a single circulation put down, lifted, and then continued without a torn for 10 minutes and then dropped another tornado - is that a separate tornado? Good question.
Also, another good topic for W&C which Rich and Jeff bring up is regarding a meso circulation near the ground. I use the term the same way when describing a broad area of circulation in close proximity to the ground but not in contact - or perhaps at times possibly in contact as small vortices occasionally dipping down. Now for clarification for everyone meso or mesocyclone is primarily a radar term describing a feature on radar - no? Everyone uses meso out in the field in a visual context. Is this term now legitimately taking on a physical / visual definition alternatively to the original radar term? If not, what would we describe it as? Is is truly / more appropriately a wallcloud, or a tornado cyclone that is not in full contact with the ground? Perhaps the tornado cyclone is a better term - and actually that is probably the same as the radar term mesocyclone refers to - correct? Additionally it is interesting when people see a meso / wallcloud / tornado cyclone and it may have tendrils or vortices in contact with the ground as to me that must meet the classic defintion of a tornado assuming violent motion in contact with the ground and pendant from a cumuliform cloud. What are you guys thoughts on this, and how do you see it?
Jeff, thanks for that link. Very nice!
As for tornado defs...this would likely make a good 'Weather and Chasing' category theme cause I'm sure everyone has their own feelings and reasons. I'd probably only call it a separate tornado if an initial tornado / rotation region occluded and then a new circulation such as to ne appeared and dropped a tube. If a single circulation put down, lifted, and then continued without a torn for 10 minutes and then dropped another tornado - is that a separate tornado? Good question.
Also, another good topic for W&C which Rich and Jeff bring up is regarding a meso circulation near the ground. I use the term the same way when describing a broad area of circulation in close proximity to the ground but not in contact - or perhaps at times possibly in contact as small vortices occasionally dipping down. Now for clarification for everyone meso or mesocyclone is primarily a radar term describing a feature on radar - no? Everyone uses meso out in the field in a visual context. Is this term now legitimately taking on a physical / visual definition alternatively to the original radar term? If not, what would we describe it as? Is is truly / more appropriately a wallcloud, or a tornado cyclone that is not in full contact with the ground? Perhaps the tornado cyclone is a better term - and actually that is probably the same as the radar term mesocyclone refers to - correct? Additionally it is interesting when people see a meso / wallcloud / tornado cyclone and it may have tendrils or vortices in contact with the ground as to me that must meet the classic defintion of a tornado assuming violent motion in contact with the ground and pendant from a cumuliform cloud. What are you guys thoughts on this, and how do you see it?
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