How Do We Measure a Tornado?
In short: Tornado winds are rarely measured directly, so scientists estimate them from damage, first with Ted Fujita's 1971 scale and since 2007 with the Enhanced Fujita Scale, while mobile radar offers occasional direct glimpses.
A 1:29 short film in the series “Invisible Atmosphere”, narrated by intellect_voice_01.
Sources used in this film: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), “Tornado Basics”; NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), “Severe Weather 101: Tornado FAQ”; National Weather Service (NOAA), Weather Spotter's Field Guide, “Weather Spotter’s Field Guide - Glossary: F”; NOAA / National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC), “Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale”; Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (report submitted to the National Weather Service; hosted by NOAA Storm Prediction Center), “Enhanced Fujita Scale Report”; Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (document hosted by NOAA Storm Prediction Center), “ef-ttu.pdf”; NOAA / National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center, “NOAA's NWS Storm Prediction Center”; Elsevier (ScienceDirect), journal Atmospheric Research, “Towards an improved wind speed scale and damage description adapted for Central Europe”.
Sources used in this film
- NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) — Tornado Basics · View →
- NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) — Severe Weather 101: Tornado FAQ · View →
- National Weather Service (NOAA), Weather Spotter's Field Guide — Weather Spotter’s Field Guide - Glossary: F · View →
- NOAA / National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) — Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale · View →
- Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (report submitted to the National Weather Service; hosted by NOAA Storm Prediction Center) — Enhanced Fujita Scale Report · View →
- Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (document hosted by NOAA Storm Prediction Center) — ef-ttu.pdf · View →
- NOAA / National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center — NOAA's NWS Storm Prediction Center · View →
- Elsevier (ScienceDirect), journal Atmospheric Research — Towards an improved wind speed scale and damage description adapted for Central Europe · View →
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL): Tornado Basics
- Also: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL): Tornado FAQ
- Also: National Weather Service (NOAA), Weather Spotter's Field Guide: Weather Spotter’s Field Guide - Glossary: F
- Also: NOAA / National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC): Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale
- Also: Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (report submitted to the National Weather Service; hosted by : Enhanced Fujita Scale Report
- Also: Wind Science and Engineering Center, Texas Tech University (document hosted by NOAA Storm Prediction Center): ef-ttu.pdf
- Also: NOAA / National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center: NOAA's NWS Storm Prediction Center
- Also: Elsevier (ScienceDirect), journal Atmospheric Research: Towards an improved wind speed scale and damage description adapted for Central Europe
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