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Lesson 4: Chasing Tornadoes

Tornadoes annually cause hundreds of millions of dollars of damage in the United States. Atmospheric scientists often collect a variety of data associated with tornadoes. In this investigation, you’ll study three factors that may or may not impact the damage caused by a tornado. Get ready for your spin in the tornado simulation.

Doing the science


    Part I. Chasing Pressure
  1. Start the Tornado Simulation by clicking on the “Simulation” tab.
  2. Make sure the Pressure is set on 750 millibars. Leave the Temperature Difference on “0ºC” and the Funnel Width on “Narrow” for the entire Part I portion of the lesson.
  3. Click the “Run Simulation” button.
  4. Note and record in Table 1 the Wind Speed and Damage Rating.
  5. Click the “Reset Simulation” button. Change the Pressure to 800 millibars and rerun the experiment repeating steps 3 – 4.
  6. Continue collecting data for pressures of 850, 900, 950, and 1,000 millibars. Make sure to keep Temperature Difference and Funnel Width values the same.

    7. Part II. Chasing Temperature
  7. Set the Temperature Difference to “0ºC.” Leave the Pressure on “1,000 millibars” and the Funnel Width on “Narrow” for the entire Part II portion of the lesson.
  8. Click the “Run Simulation” button.
  9. Note and record in Table 2 the Wind Speed and Damage Rating.
  10. Click the “Reset Simulation” button. Change the Temperature Difference to “10ºC” and rerun the experiment repeating steps 8 – 9.
  11. Continue collecting data for temperature differences of 20, 30, 40 and 50ºC. Make sure to keep Pressure and Funnel Width values the same.

    12. Part III. Chasing the Funnel Width
  12. Set the Funnel Width to “1-Narrow.” Leave the Pressure on “1,000 millibars” and the Temperature Difference on “0ºC” for the entire Part III portion of the lesson.
  13. Click the “Run Simulation” button.
  14. Note and record in Table 3 the Wind Speed and Damage Rating.
  15. Click the “Reset Simulation” button. Change the Funnel Width to “2” and rerun the experiment repeating steps 13 – 14.
  16. Continue collecting data for Funnel Widths of 3, 4, and 5-Wide. Make sure to keep Pressure and Temperature Difference values the same.

Table 1.

Pressure (millibars)

Wind Speed (mph)

Damage Rating

750

800

850

900

950

1,000

Do You Understand?

  1. What variable(s) was/were held constant in Part I of this investigation?


  2. What was/were the response variable(s) in Part II of this investigation?


  3. What was/were the manipulated variable(s) in Part III of this investigation?


  4. How would you describe the relationship between funnel width and tornado damage? As a direct, inverse, or no relationship? Please support your response with evidence.


  5. How would you describe the relationship between pressure and wind speed of the tornado? As a direct, inverse, or no relationship? Please support your response with evidence.


  6. How would you describe the relationship between temperature difference and the damage due to a tornado? As a direct, inverse, or no relationship? Please support your response with evidence.


  7. Why do tornadoes occur more often during the spring season in the United States? Hint: Use your data from Part II of this investigation to support your response with evidence.


  8. What pressure, temperature difference, and funnel width in this simulation resulted in the most damaging tornado?