Articles | Volume 10, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-10-295-2010
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-10-295-2010
16 Feb 2010
 | 16 Feb 2010

Brief communication "Modeling tornado dynamics and the generation of infrasound, electric and magnetic fields"

E. D. Schmitter

Abstract. Recent observations endorse earlier measurements of time varying electric and magnetic fields generated by tornadoes and dust devils. These signals may provide a means for early warning but together with a proper modeling approach can also provide insight into geometry and dynamics of the vortices. Our model calculations show the existence of pressure resonances characterized as acoustic duct modes with well defined frequencies. These resonances not only generate infrasound but also modulate the charge density and the velocity field and in this way lead to electric and magnetic field oscillations in the 0.5–20-Hz range that can be monitored from a distance of several kilometers.

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