How does a tornado work?
google the topic, and you will get lots of information.
For easy to understand information, Google tornado kids.
A tornado is a violent and rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. The exact mechanisms behind tornado formation are complex, but I can explain the basic factors involved.
1. Atmospheric instability: Tornadoes typically form within severe thunderstorms, which need an unstable atmosphere. This instability is caused by warm, moist air near the surface and cool, dry air above it.
2. Wind shear: Wind shear refers to the change in wind speed and direction with height. Tornadoes require strong wind shear that creates a rotating column of air in the thunderstorm. This rotation can be initially induced by differences in wind speed and direction at different altitudes.
3. Mesocyclone formation: Within a severe thunderstorm, a mesocyclone may develop. This is a large-scale rotating updraft of air. The mesocyclone sets the stage for tornado formation by creating a horizontally spinning cylinder of air, several miles wide.
4. Tornado formation: Within the mesocyclone, updrafts and downdrafts interact, causing the rotating cylinder of air to narrow and intensify. This process is known as tornado cyclone formation. As the rotating air tightens, it can extend from the cloud base to the ground and form a tornado.
It is important to note that tornadoes are still not fully understood, and researchers continue to study these phenomena to improve our understanding and prediction capabilities.