This document compares and contrasts cyclones and tornadoes. It defines each phenomenon, describes their typical geographic locations, characteristics such as rotation and wind speeds, how intensity is measured, methods of detection, examples of damage levels, and includes photos and videos. The document was presented by five students for their Disaster Management course, with guidance from their faculty advisor.
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Cyclone vs Tornado
1. Cyclone and Tornado
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
2150003
Dr. Kamlesh S. Dalal
Assistant Professor in CED
(Faculty Guide)
Civil Engineering Department
Sarvajanik College of Engineering and
Technology,
Surat.
CivilEngg.Dept.
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4. Definition
• A cyclone is a large scale air mass that rotates around a strong
center of low atmospheric pressure.
• They are usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that
rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise.
• A tornado is rotating column of air whirling at destructively
high speeds, usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped
downward extension of a thundercloud.
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5. Geographical Location
•Cyclones begin in tropical regions such as Pacific islands,
Northern Australia and other areas.
•Tornadoes have been spotted in all continents except
Antarctica. Highest frequencies occur in the Netherlands, and up
to 1200 on average in the United States.
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6. Characteristics
• Cyclones have a low pressure center which is called the "eye", and the wind
circling around is counter clockwise on the northern hemisphere and
clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
• The speed of cyclones varies from 32 to 200 kmph.
• Cyclone mainly occur in a particular season and mainly affect the coastal
areas.
• Cyclones can be of three main types:
Polar
Tropical
Mesocyclones
Cyclones
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7. • Tornadoes normally rotate cyclonically (when viewed from above, this is
counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the
southern).
• The speed of tornado varies from 60 to 480 kmph.
• Tornadoes are most common in spring and least common in winter.
• Tornadoes can be of three main types:
Multiple vortex
Waterspout
Landspout
Tornado
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8. Intensity and Damage
• The scale for measuring cyclones is called the Beaufort
Scale and Saffir-Simpson scale and may vary in different
countries.
• The scale for measuring the intensity of cyclones depends
on the intensity of damage and the wind speed.
• The scale ranges from negligible house damage, and
destruction of plants and tress to extensive damage and
widespread destruction, with wind speed ranging from 74
to 156 mph.
Cyclones
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9. • The intensity of tornadoes can also vary in intensity those with a
longer track being stronger. The scale used for rating the strength of
tornadoes is called the Fujita (F), Enhanced Fujita (EF), and TORRO
(T) Scale.
• The range varies from F0, EF0 or T0 for minimal damage (damages
trees but not buildings) up to F5, EF5 or T11 for vast degree of
damage (buildings and skyscrapers end up getting damaged).
• In the United States, maximum tornadoes (80%) fall into the EF0
and EF1 (T0 to T3) category and less than 1% are violent (EF4, T8 or
more).
Tornado
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10. Detection
• Cyclones and tornadoes are detected by Pulse-Doppler
radar, photogrametry, and ground swirl patterns.
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11. Photos
Cyclone Tornado
Source: Cyclone Nilofar
URL: https://goo.gl/qt4wSr
Source: This was part of the Oklahoma
tornado outbreak on May 3, 1999
URL: https://goo.gl/3iUbfu
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12. Comparison
Point Cyclone Tornado
Definition It is a large scale air mass that
rotates around a strong center
of low atmospheric pressure.
It is rotating column of air whirling
at destructively high speeds, usually
accompanied by a funnel-shaped
downward extension of a
thundercloud.
Rotation Clockwise in the southern
hemisphere and counterclockwise in
the northern hemisphere.
Clockwise in the southern hemisphere
and counterclockwise in the northern
hemisphere.
Intensity • Beaufort Scale and
• Saffir-Simpson scale
• Fujita (F)
• Enhanced Fujita (EF)
• TORRO (T) Scale
Location Southern Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean.
Cyclones in the northwest Pacific that
reach (exceed) 74 mph are "typhoons".
Tornados have been spotted in all
continents except Antarctica.
Most affected
area
Pacific ocean. In areas where a convergence of cold
and warm fronts is common. i.e. US
Midwest.
Frequency 10-14 per year. There were 1,285 tornadoes reported in
the United States in 2015.
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