The mechanism of tornadogenesis from the perspective of vortex tubes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a vortex tube-based theory for tornadogenesis, explaining how pressure differences influence vortex vorticity and tornado strength throughout their lifecycle.

Contribution

It presents a novel vortex tube perspective on tornadogenesis, linking pressure differences to vortex vorticity and tornado development and decay.

Findings

Tornado strength correlates with pressure difference magnitude.

Vortex vorticity increases with pressure difference.

Tornado decay is caused by decreasing pressure difference.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new theory on tornadogenesis from the perspective of vortex tubes based on Kelvin-Helmholtz Theorems. When the pressure difference between the lowest pressure line from the wall cloud down to the ground and its surroundings is large enough, the increase of vorticity inside the squeezed vortex tube can reach the tornado level, and thus a tornado is born. When the pressure difference increases, the tornado strength increases. When the pressure difference decreases, the tornado strength decreases. The decay of tornadoes is caused by the decreasing pressure difference. This is our theory of the entire tornado lifespan.