What causes the tornadoes that plague the part of Oklahoma known as “tornado alley”?
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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/05/130601-oklahoma-tornadoes-supercell-natural-disasters-science/
Tornadoes in the region known as "Tornado Alley" in Oklahoma are primarily caused by a combination of atmospheric conditions and geographical factors.
To understand how tornadoes form in this area, you need to know the ingredients for their formation:
1. Moisture: Tornadoes require an abundant supply of moisture, typically from the Gulf of Mexico, which provides warm and humid air.
2. Instability: Tornadoes form when there is a large contrast in temperature and humidity between the surface and upper levels of the atmosphere. This creates instability, allowing air parcels to rise rapidly.
3. Wind Shear: Wind shear refers to a change in wind direction or speed with height. Tornadoes require strong wind shear to create rotation within thunderstorms.
In Oklahoma's Tornado Alley, these conditions often come together due to several factors:
1. Location: Oklahoma is centrally located in the United States, meaning it is in close proximity to both the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the dry air coming from the Rocky Mountains.
2. Geography: The area has a relatively flat terrain, which allows cold, dry air from the Rocky Mountains to clash with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.
3. Weather Patterns: In Tornado Alley, warm, moist air from the south often collides with cold, dry air from the north. When these contrasting air masses meet, it can trigger the formation of powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Additionally, the state of Oklahoma experiences a high frequency of tornadoes due to its proximity to the "dryline" – a boundary between moist and dry air masses. This makes the region particularly susceptible to severe weather events.
It's important to note that while these conditions are frequently observed in Tornado Alley, tornadoes can occur in other regions as well, under the right conditions. To study and monitor tornadoes, meteorologists use the latest technology, such as Doppler radar and storm-chasing practices, to better understand and forecast these severe weather events.