“With support from the National Science Foundation, computer scientist Amy McGovern at the University of Oklahoma is working to find answers to key questions about tornado formation. Why do tornadoes occur in some storms, but not in others?” Quoted from the National Science Foundation press release.
“This year we see a quite early start of the tornado season with a high frequency of the events coming close to the record year 2008 for this time of the year.” Quoted from Peter Hoeppe, Munich Re.
“The United Nations reports 2011 was the costliest year in history for catastrophes. It says economic losses from natural disasters, including earthquakes, storms and floods, amounted to $366 billion.” Quoted from the Voice of America article.
NOAA has a website that provides information on all weather and climate-related disasters that have produced damages of over $1 billion in the United States since 1980. Their website has a variety of maps, charts, lists and narratives.
“As large parts of the nation recover from nature’s one-two punch—an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene—building researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology warn that a double whammy of seismic and wind hazards can increase the risk of structural damage to as much as twice the level implied in building codes.” Quoted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology news release.
“With support from the National Science Foundation, sociologist Tricia Wachtendorf and teams from the Disaster Research Center go to devastated locations to learn more about how lives may be saved in the future.” Quoted from the National Science Foundation news release.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and flooding during the first six months of this year have already made 2011 the record year for natural catastrophe losses. This free webinar from Munich Re provides an overview of the estimated $265 billion in losses.
“It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. Now scientists are organizing a research program to better understand the tornadoes that blew through Alabama and other southeastern states on April 27, 2011.” Quoted from the National Science Foundation press release.
“They are sometimes seen as threatening funnel clouds descending from stormy skies. Others can be nearly invisible, like a ghostly spiral of wind skimming the sea surface. These eerie columns of rotating air are known as waterspouts — commonly defined as tornadoes over water.” Quoted from the NOAA video transcript.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has posted an article on Spring 2011 U.S. Climate Extremes. It summarizes the unusual tornado, flooding, drought and wildfire problems that have been seen in the United States so far this year.
“On June 1, 2011, a supercell thunderstorm developed over western Massachusetts. The storm produced an EF3 tornado that cut a 39-mile (63-kilometer) track of destruction across southwest and south-central Massachusetts. Not only did the long-lived tornado remain on the ground for many miles, but it also widened to roughly 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) in Brimfield State Forest. [...] This image shows part of the tornado track, including damage in Sturbridge.” Quoted from the Earth Observatory press release.
At least 19 communities in western Massachusetts reported tornados on Wednesday evening. The storms damaged a large number of buildings and injured many people.
The New York Times has posted a question and answer session on tornadoes that will help people understand the facts and fiction about tornadoes and how to survive them.
A deadly tornado cut a one-mile path through part of Joplin, Missouri killing at least 89 people and causing damage to about 25% of the town’s buildings.
“There is no practical, economic way to build structures that could stand up to the savagery of EF5 tornadoes like those that ripped through the South in late April, experts say, but damage from lesser storms could be reduced by better building practices and better enforcement of existing codes.” Quoted from the Oregon State University news release.
The SCINEWS teacher resource site has a new lesson titled: “Tornado Outbreaks in the Southern and Eastern US”. It includes a printable event overview, student worksheet, links to videos and links to additional information.
A new approach to weather forecasting is in the works for the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The system would consist of an array small radar devices around the region rather than one large radar system for the region.
The New York Times has a United States map with tornado tracks and fatality locations for the recent tornadoes that occured in the eastern and central United States. Also a time line of deadly tornadoes from 1950 to present.
Dozens of people were killed this weekend as deadly tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.
A few companies are building tornado-resistant homes that look like typical homes but have a structural steel frame. They cost just 5% more than a typical home.
Welcome to Geology News!
Every day you can find links to several earth science news topics right here.
Bookmark this page and visit often. You can also receive our news for free by RSS feed or in a daily email message.
Advertising
Popular From Geology.com
Marcellus Shale: The most overlooked resource in the eastern United States!
Diamonds from Coal? Diamonds form under a variety of conditions that rarely involve coal as a source of carbon.
Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas: Who owns the minerals under your land? Have they been sold? Can someone mine without permission?
The Many Uses of Gold: Learn how the unique properties of gold make it extremely suited for a large number of industrial uses.
