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MESOCYCLONE [1 record]

Record 1 2025-10-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
CONT

A mesocyclone is a vortex of air, approximately 2 to 10 miles in diameter, within a convective storm. In a mesocyclone, air rises and rotates around a vertical axis, usually in the same direction as low pressure systems. They are most often associated with a localised low-pressure region within a severe thunderstorm. Such storms can feature strong surface winds and severe hail. Mesocyclones often occur together with updrafts in supercells, where tornadoes may form. Mesocyclones are believed to form when strong changes of wind speed and/or direction with height ("wind shear") sets parts of the lower atmosphere spinning in invisible tube-like rolls. The convective updraft of a thunderstorm is then thought to draw up this spinning air, tilting the rolls' orientation upward (from parallel to the ground to perpendicular) and causing the entire updraft to rotate as a vertical column.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
CONT

Une tornade se forme dans un méga orage, ceux qu'on appelle supercellulaires. Alors qu'un nuage d'orage se crée, si des vents de différentes vitesses (soit des vents rapides en altitude et des vents plus lents au niveau du sol; on appelle cette division le cisaillement des vents) le traversent, une rotation horizontale de l'air se crée dans le nuage. Ce tunnel horizontal est ensuite poussé par l'air chaud qui monte du sol. Le rouleau d'air se redresse à l'intérieur de la cellule orageuse pour prendre une position verticale. Cette colonne d'air qui pivote sur elle-même dans le nuage s'appelle un mésocyclone.

Spanish

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