Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Heidi Erfourth, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Heidi Erfourth
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Aviation
Faculty Mentor Name
Zoe Searcy
Abstract
Tornado outbreaks are changing in frequency and intensity over time, but limited research has focused on the role of greenhouse gas emissions on tornado outbreaks. More research is needed to understand the impact of the Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6), and Ozone (O3) on tornado outbreak climatology. Emission data from the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) and tornado data from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) are utilized to explore trends between tornado outbreak climatology and greenhouse gas emissions on an annual, five-year, and ten-year basis. Results show an increase in CO2, CH4, and AGGI with a decrease in O3 annually. Additionally, there is a positive trend in the total number of outbreaks and the average number of tornadoes per outbreak annually. However, results indicate that the total number of outbreaks and the average number of tornadoes in outbreaks have a weak correlation with the annual, five-year, and ten-year emissions of CO2, CH4, O3, and AGGI.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Exploring trends in tornado outbreaks and greenhouse gas concentrations
Tornado outbreaks are changing in frequency and intensity over time, but limited research has focused on the role of greenhouse gas emissions on tornado outbreaks. More research is needed to understand the impact of the Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6), and Ozone (O3) on tornado outbreak climatology. Emission data from the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) and tornado data from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) are utilized to explore trends between tornado outbreak climatology and greenhouse gas emissions on an annual, five-year, and ten-year basis. Results show an increase in CO2, CH4, and AGGI with a decrease in O3 annually. Additionally, there is a positive trend in the total number of outbreaks and the average number of tornadoes per outbreak annually. However, results indicate that the total number of outbreaks and the average number of tornadoes in outbreaks have a weak correlation with the annual, five-year, and ten-year emissions of CO2, CH4, O3, and AGGI.