In the News, why?
A luxurious yacht was recently battered by a strong storm off the coast of Sicily, Italy, and it sank. Experts believe that the storm might have been a waterspout, a phenomena that resembles a tornado and forms over water.
What is a Waterspouts?
Overview:
- A waterspout is a mist and air column that rotates above a body of water. It typically lasts for five to ten minutes and is less powerful than tornadoes.
- Waterspouts are noteworthy atmospheric occurrences that are typified by revolving air columns forming above bodies of water. These structures, which resemble tornadoes, usually form abroad or in vast lakes and provide an amazing demonstration of the power of nature.
- A waterspout can reach wind speeds of up to 100 km/h and has an average diameter of about 165 ft.
- It is a milder form of tornado that usually lasts five to ten minutes.
- Approximately 165 feet (50 meters) is the average diameter.
- Wind speeds can attain up to 60 miles per hour (100 km/h).
Formation of Waterspouts:
A waterspout’s formation differs according to its type:
- Fair-weather waterspouts are caused by cool air moving across open water, which causes the water to be drawn upward.
- During thunderstorms, the formation of tornadic waterspouts is more likely. Some may even form land tornadoes before moving across water. Usually, these waterspouts begin in the sky and descend.
The Occurrence :
The presence of cold air cycling over warm water is essential for the production of waterspouts.
- When these circumstances come together, a waterspout may form.
- Certain areas with particular weather patterns are more likely to have waterspouts.
- In regions with warm oceans, high humidity, and atmospheric instability, they tend to happen more frequently.
Though they are a relatively uncommon occurrence, reports of waterspouts have been made in Antarctica, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
The evolution of waterspouts follows a unique five-stage process:
- Dark spot: On the surface of the water, a light-coloured disk appears, encircled by a darker region with hazy borders.
- Spiral pattern: From the black spot, bands of light and dark colors spiral outward.
- Spray ring: Like a hurricane’s eye, the dark area produces a whirling mass of sea spray.
- Mature vortex: From the water’s surface to the clouds above, the spray ring spins like a funnel.
- Decay: The waterspout weakens and fades when warm air breaks up the vortex.
- Waterspouts can be classified as either tornadic or non-tornadic.
Tornadic waterspouts: meaning they form over water or travel from land to water.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that they are associated with powerful thunderstorms and frequently have enormous hail, strong gusts, choppy seas, and deadly lighting.
Significant damage can be caused by tornadic waterspouts due to their large size.
Fair-Weather Waterspouts: These are the most prevalent kind and only occur over water.
They usually occur in calm weather and are smaller in size and less hazardous than tornadic waterspouts.
Snowspouts:
- These are very uncommon waterspouts that form beneath a snowstorm’s base.
- Sometimes referred to as snow devils, they are usually weak, yet rarely they can get as strong as an EF1 tornado.
Different names for cyclones are offered in different parts of the world:
a. Typhoons: in the Pacific and China Seas
- Hurricanes: on the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, on the West Indian islands
- Tornadoes: In the southern United States and Guinea regions of West Africa
- Tropical cyclones: in the Indian Ocean
- Willy-willies: in northwest Australia
Support for Marine Ecosystems
Waterspouts can carry objects to greater heights by drawing water, fish, and other aquatic life up from the surface.
The nearby ecology benefits from this process’ contribution to the distribution of nutrients and marine life.
About Sicily :
Situated off the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Together with the islands of Egadi, Lipari, Pelagie, and Panteleria, it forms part of an autonomous territory of Italy.
Palermo, the largest city on the island, serves as the capital of Sicily.
Previous Year Questions :
[2020] Consider the following statements:
- Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
- Only some cyclones develop an eye.
- The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10ºC lower than that of the surroundings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.” (2015)
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
(a) Savannah
(b) Equatorial
(c) Monsoon
(d) Mediterranean
Ans: (b)
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