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Faculty Mentor Name
Curtis James, Ronny Schroeder
Format Preference
Poster Presentation with Audio
Abstract
The 2010 Tornado Outbreak in Northern Arizona was the largest tornado outbreak in history on the west side of the Continental Divide, with 11 confirmed tornadoes touching down. This event is unique because so many tornadoes occurred, touching down only in high terrain, enabling us to study how topography affects tornadogenesis. We have analyzed the precise tracks of mesocyclones identified by Doppler radar in relation to the terrain and the damage paths of the 11 confirmed tornadoes. Statistical correlations between terrain slope and elevation, with respect to normalized rotation observed by radar, reveal the influence of topography on the development of mid-level rotation along the path of every strong, persistent thunderstorm that formed. This study documents the extraordinary characteristics of the 2010 Tornado Outbreak and gains insight into the relationship between terrain and tornadogenesis.
- POSTER PRESENTATION; AUDIO added when event went online only.
- ARIZONA SPACE GRANT AWARD
Statistical Analysis of the Northern Arizona Tornado Outbreak
The 2010 Tornado Outbreak in Northern Arizona was the largest tornado outbreak in history on the west side of the Continental Divide, with 11 confirmed tornadoes touching down. This event is unique because so many tornadoes occurred, touching down only in high terrain, enabling us to study how topography affects tornadogenesis. We have analyzed the precise tracks of mesocyclones identified by Doppler radar in relation to the terrain and the damage paths of the 11 confirmed tornadoes. Statistical correlations between terrain slope and elevation, with respect to normalized rotation observed by radar, reveal the influence of topography on the development of mid-level rotation along the path of every strong, persistent thunderstorm that formed. This study documents the extraordinary characteristics of the 2010 Tornado Outbreak and gains insight into the relationship between terrain and tornadogenesis.
- POSTER PRESENTATION; AUDIO added when event went online only.
- ARIZONA SPACE GRANT AWARD