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Weather Inquiry

This case study investigates the high frequency of tornadoes in Tornado Alley and explores the formation and risk factors of tornadoes in Cimmaron County, Oklahoma. It also provides a tornado risk map for the area.

sharonrichards
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Weather Inquiry

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  1. Weather Inquiry Case Study: Tornado Alley

  2. Tornado Risk Map

  3. 1991 Cimmaron County, OK Tornado

  4. Tornado Alley is a nickname given to an area in the southern plains of the central U.S. that consistently experiences a high frequency of tornadoes each year. Tornadoes in this region typically happen in late Spring and occasionally the early fall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Alley

  5. Before thunderstorms develop, a change in wind direction and an increase in wind speed with increasing height creates an invisible, horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere. Rising air within the thunderstorm updraft tilts the rotating air from horizontal to vertical. An area of rotation, 2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm. Most strong and violent tornadoes form within this area of strong rotation.

  6. Moments later a strong tornado develops in this area.

  7. Activity Instructions • Group 1: Develop a list of scientific questionsabout Tornado Alley. • Group 2: Design one or more classroom inquiries to investigate given questions (guided inquiry). • Groups 3: Evaluate two possible explanations concerning Tornado Alley given the evidence and question provided.

  8. Meteorologically, the region known as Tornado Alley is ideally situated for the formation of supercell thunderstorms, often the producers of violent (EF2 or greater) tornadoes.

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