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Atmospheric columnar vortices
Author(s) -
Snow John T.
Publication year - 1987
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/rg025i003p00371
Subject(s) - vortex , tornado , physics , multiplicity (mathematics) , mechanics , geology , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , geometry , mathematics
The family of atmospheric columnar vortices includes tornadoes, waterspouts, firewhirls, dust devils and a variety of other whirlwinds. Each member of the family is characterized by the presence of a relatively tall, concentrated vortical core. Descriptions of such swirling flows are inherently complex, reflecting the presence of a multiplicity of length and velocity scales. In many cases, the flow is both three‐dimensional and unsteady.