Log In
Summary
*Note:
For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.
If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.
If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.
Abstract
Tornadoes are a very destructive weather phenomenon that is very hard to predict. Certain weather conditions can indicate if a tornado is likely to occur, but the path that the tornado will take is completely unpredictable. Storm chasers are people who chase tornadoes and try to capture them on film or video. They often have a sense of predicting where and when a tornado will strike, but the best images are also due to a bit of luck and survival instinct. Even though tornadoes are unpredictable, there are some trends you can investigate. Is there a tornado season? Is there a regional distribution of tornado activity? Where are the tornado hot-spots? You can make your own tornado in a bottle, to test the effect of two temperatures coming together to form a tornado. You can also investigate dirt devils, which are tiny tornadoes that occur on flat, dusty and dry desert soils. (NCAR, 2006; NOAA, 2006; Weather Underground, 2006; WMO, 2006)Bibliography
- NCAR, 2006. NCAR Science and Education Outreach Page, National Center for Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 3/1/2006.
- NOAA, 2006. NOAA Homepage, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved 3/1/2006.
- The Weather Underground, Inc, 2005. The Weather Underground, Ann Arbor, MI. Retrieved 12/13/05.
- WMO, 2006. World Meteorological Organization, WMO, United Nations. Retrieved 3/1/2006.
Ask an Expert
Do you have specific questions about your science project? Our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
Careers
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Career Profile
The atmosphere is a blanket of gases, surrounding Earth, that creates our weather. Meteorologists study the measurements and motion of the atmosphere, and changing events within it, so that they can predict the weather. This weather forecasting helps the general public and people who work in industries such as shipping, air transportation, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and water and power better plan for the weather, and reduce human and economic losses.
Read more
Career Profile
There will always be both man-made and natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks, that affect public health and safety. Emergency management specialists are the officials that plan for these disasters—imagining and preparing for the worst—and then coordinating the emergency responses. Emergency management specialists work for local, state, and federal governments, as well as for law enforcement, the military and private agencies to ensure that people…
Read more
Related Links
Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
"Tornadoes." Science Buddies,
23 June 2020,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Weather_p024/weather-atmosphere/tornadoes?class=AQXPeinr-ccC8P34eGTof1zEl6mx9dBLAi3IaZjznsHXwQpP7Gx-LY-AbynGARIK1SFR3B_kOnkrXWnbtx-4ACXsqRey7MdVhtgzKIfF6-ttgQ.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
(2020, June 23).
Tornadoes.
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Weather_p024/weather-atmosphere/tornadoes?class=AQXPeinr-ccC8P34eGTof1zEl6mx9dBLAi3IaZjznsHXwQpP7Gx-LY-AbynGARIK1SFR3B_kOnkrXWnbtx-4ACXsqRey7MdVhtgzKIfF6-ttgQ
Last edit date: 2020-06-23
Explore Our Science Videos
Science Buddies: Pilobolus Spore Sac Launch
Marble Machine: 2016 Engineering Challenge
Follow the Flow: 2017 Engineering Challenge