Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Cyclone
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Mesoscale== The following types of cyclones are not identifiable in synoptic charts. ===Mesocyclone=== {{Main|Mesocyclone}} A '''mesocyclone''' is a [[vortex]] of air, {{convert|2.0|km|mi}} to {{convert|10|km|mi}} in diameter (the [[mesoscale meteorology|mesoscale of meteorology]]), within a [[convection|convective]] storm.<ref name="MesocyloneDef">{{cite web|title=Mesocyclone|author=Glossary of Meteorology|publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]]|date=June 2000|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Mesocyclone|access-date=2006-12-07|archive-date=2014-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517225409/http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Mesocyclone|url-status=live}}</ref> Air rises and rotates around a vertical axis, usually in the same direction as low-pressure systems<ref name="skybrary.aero">{{cite web |title=Mesocyclone β SKYbrary Aviation Safety |url=https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Mesocyclone |website=www.skybrary.aero |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114104249/https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Mesocyclone |url-status=live }}</ref> in both northern and southern hemisphere. They are most often cyclonic, that is, associated with a localized low-pressure region within a [[supercell]].<ref name="skybrary.aero"/><ref>{{cite web|author=[[National Weather Service]] Forecast Office State College, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ctp/features/2006/07_10/|title=Splitting Storm and Anti-cyclonic Rotating Mesocyclone in a Thunderstorm over Elk County July 10th, 2006|date=2006-07-16|access-date=2008-06-15|archive-date=2009-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114220647/http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ctp/features/2006/07_10/|url-status=live}}</ref> Such storms can feature strong surface winds and severe [[hail]].<ref name="skybrary.aero"/> Mesocyclones often occur together with updrafts in [[supercell]]s, where [[tornado]]es may form.<ref name="skybrary.aero"/> About 1,700 mesocyclones form annually across the United States, but only half produce tornadoes.<ref name="FoN">Forces of Nature. [http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tornadoes/themesocyclone.shtml Tornadoes : the mesocyclone.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616154710/http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tornadoes/themesocyclone.shtml|date=2008-06-16}} Retrieved on 2008-06-15.</ref> ===Tornado=== {{main|Tornado}} A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or,<ref>{{cite web |title=Tornado Basics |url=https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ |website=NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory |access-date=13 January 2021 |language=EN-US |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831211732/https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. Also referred to as twisters, a colloquial term in America, or cyclones, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology, in a wider sense, to name any closed low-pressure circulation. ===Dust devil=== {{main|Dust devil}} A [[dust devil]] is a strong, well-formed, and relatively long-lived whirlwind,<ref name="Dust Devils">{{cite web |title=Dust Devils |url=https://www.crystalinks.com/dustdevils.html |website=www.crystalinks.com |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125094338/https://www.crystalinks.com/dustdevils.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ranging from small (half a metre wide and a few metres tall) to large (more than 10 metres wide and more than 1000 metres tall).<ref name="Dust Devils"/> The primary vertical motion is upward.<ref name="Dust Devils"/> Dust devils are usually harmless, but can on rare occasions grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property.<ref name="Dust Devils"/> ===Waterspout=== {{main|Waterspout}} A waterspout is a columnar vortex forming over water that is, in its most common form, a non-[[supercell]] [[tornado]] over water that is connected to a [[cumuliform cloud]]. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by [[mesocyclones]] do occur. ===Steam devil=== {{main|Steam devil}} A gentle vortex over calm water or wet land made visible by rising water vapour. ===Fire whirl=== {{main|Fire whirl}} A fire whirl β also colloquially known as a fire devil, fire tornado, firenado, or fire twister β is a whirlwind induced by a fire and often made up of flame or ash.
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)