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A review of recent advances in tornado vortex dynamics
Author(s) -
Snow John T.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg020i004p00953
Subject(s) - tornado , vortex , vorticity , mechanics , physics , horseshoe vortex , vortex shedding , flow (mathematics) , vortex stretching , meteorology , geology , geophysics , turbulence , reynolds number
Advances in understanding the dynamics of tornado vortices since the Lubbock symposium of 1976 are reviewed. The focus is on results obtained from experimental work with laboratory models and from numerical simulations of both real and laboratory events. Progress is shown to have been made in two areas: an increased appreciation for the possible complexities of tornado vortex structure and an improved understanding of the vorticity dynamics of columnar vortices. With respect to the former the evolution of the central core flow from a single‐celled to a two‐celled flow is described, and a mechanism capable of producing the multiple‐vortex phenomenon is discussed. In the latter area the arrangements of vortex lines within the surface inflow layer and in the cores of one‐ and two‐celled vortices are presented. It is seen that both the laboratory work and the numerical simulations indicate a key role in the dynamics of the vortex core played by the vortex breakdown phenomenon. Wherever possible, the theoretical findings are related to recent high‐quality observations of actual tornadoes.