Anyone who has lived through a tornado will tell you that these are the most terrifyingly beautiful things on Earth. The amount of power that a tornado wields is equal parts impressive, mesmerizing, and horrifying. We all love witnessing their raw power through the images and videos captured by storm chasers, and we wait with bated breath to see the cost of their passing. The amount of devastation that just one tornado can cause is hard to comprehend. Since these beasts are so deadly and destructive, we have put an uncharacteristic amount of time and effort into understanding them.
After all, the only way to protect yourself from something is to get to know it…
Learn about these amazing structures at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-anatomy-of-a-tornado/
Image:
NOAA
This is the official blog for From Quarks to Quasars. Visit us at out main site for the lastest in science and astronomy.
Monday, December 23, 2013
The Anatomy of a Tornado
Sunday, November 17, 2013
A Day On: Jupiter"s Great Red Storm
Are you a thrill seeker? Or perhaps a storm chaser? Then I would like to talk to you about one of the most violent places in our solar system: Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. This enormous high pressure storm is similar to a hurricane on Earth, except that it’s huge. Immensely huge.
In 2005, hurricane Katrina struck the coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana. It was one of the deadliest and costliest storms in U.S. history. The hurricane made landfall with wind speeds topping at 125 mph (201 km/h). When it hit land, Katrina was about 400 miles wide (644 km), and it raged for more than a week. It was horrifyingly impressive. But Katrina is nothing more than a light breeze compared to Jupiter’s massive storm.
In the Great Red Spot, assuming that you aren’t instantly crushed by the pressure (you will be), you’re going to have quite a turbulent ride. Wind speeds around the edge of this beast reach over 250 mph (400 km/h). If you’re a wind surfer, this velocity might sound enticing. But consider your arms, legs, and head flailing about sporadically, flapping like a flag in the wind. Not so fun.
To learn more about a day in the Red Spot, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/a-day-on-jupiters-great-red-storm/
Image source:
http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RedSpotEarth.jpg