Our Dangerous Earth...Tornado – a quick but terrible windstorm with a spinning funnel cloud...

Our Dangerous Earth

Tornadoes

Written by Sarah J. Keller

Copyright 2001 Isaveatree.com

ISBN 0-9714299-0-1 (50 Book Set)

Table Of Contents

A funnel shaped storm……….……….4

Quick but terrible…………….….…..10

Hail and ice……………………….…..14

Waterspouts…………………………..18

Glossary…………………………….....24

Index…………………………………..25

Books to read and web sites to visit…26

2.

A tornado is a quick but terrible windstorm. A tornado has a funnel - shaped cloud that spins at a very fast speed. A tornado is one of nature’s most powerful forces.

4.

Tornadoes are called twisters because of their twirling motion. The winds inside the tornado twirl strong enough to pick up houses and cars.

6.

The tornado funnel travels less than 50 miles an hour. The terrible winds inside the tornado can travel at hundreds of miles an hour.

8.

A tornado can appear and disappear very quickly. But a tornado can cause terrible damage to people and property.

10.

A tornado can form in a thunderstorm if warm wet air from one direction bumps into cold dry air from another direction. A tornado has rain, thunder, lightning, and hail.

12.

Hail is a ball of ice formed in the cold wet air of the tornado. Hail can be as small as a marble or as large as a golf ball. Hail can also form in strong thunderstorms.

14.

Tornadoes usually form over flat land. The plains states of the Mid West and Florida have many tornadoes. Tornadoes usually occur in spring and early summer storms.

Tornadoes that form over water are called waterspouts. Waterspouts can often be seen during the summer in the Gulf of Mexico.

18.

If conditions for a tornado exist, The National Weather Service will issue a tornado watch. If a tornado has been seen, then they will issue a tornado warning.

20.

If you live in an area that sometimes has tornadoes, be aware of the weather when you are outside. A tornado can strike very quickly, and leave disaster behind.

22.

Index

flat land, 16 Florida, 16 funnel, 4 Gulf of Mexico, 18 hail, 14

Mid West, 16 National Weather Service, 20

thunderstorm, 12 tornado warning, 20 twisters, 6 waterspouts, 18

25.

Glossary

funnel – a shape like a cone that has a small bottom and large top Gulf of Mexico – location of many summer waterspouts Hail – small balls of ice that rain down; they can be a large as a golf ball National Weather Service – a service that reports weather during storms and gives tips on staying safe from storms Thunderstorm – a heavy rainstorm with lightning and thunder Tornado – a quick but terrible windstorm with a spinning funnel cloud Twister – another name for a tornado Waterspout – a high funnel of water, which forms like a tornado, but over water

24.

More Great Books To Read Title: Eyewitiness Books / Hurricane & Tornadoes Author: Jack Challoner Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Copyright: 2000 Title: Twister Author: Bill Haduch Publisher: Discovery Publishing Copyright: 1999 Title: Tornadoes Author: Seymour Simon Publisher: Morrow Junior Books Copyright: 1999

Websites Link 1 Link 2

26.

Credits

Sarah Keller – Author Douglas Meyers- Technology Director Dan Mader- Art Director / Illustrator Robert Rance - Photo Selections Robert Rance - Audio Engineering Robert Rance – Research

Photo Credits

Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Some images in collection 1 (50 book set) www.arttoday.com I save a tree reserves the right to change photos at any time