About This Project

Tornadoes are violent rotating winds that kill people and destroy property. My recent work shows that tornado energy can be estimated from the amount of damage and the size of the damage path. Using estimated tornado energy along with population, this study will attempt to better understand how tornado casualties may change as the earth continues to warm. This allows for more insight into the changing behavior of tornadoes.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Tornadoes are violent rotating winds that kill people and destroy property. Tornadoes alone account for nearly one fifth of all storm-related deaths (NOAA, 2015). While the number of deaths increases with the number of people in harm's way, other factors are also important, such as the strength of the tornado. Recent work shows that tornado energy can be estimated from the amount of damage and the size of the damage path. Tornado energy also appears to be the best indicator of deaths and injuries.

A warming planet might lead to even more tornado casualties. By using estimated tornado energy and data models, this study will attempt to better understand how tornado casualties may change as the earth continues to warm.

What is the significance of this project?

Tornadoes may be stronger and more violent in the future. How much stronger and how many more people they may kill is important. Understanding the link between weather and climate can save lives. In response, this study will attempt to link warming conditions and tornado energy, allowing for better information on what future tornado deaths and injuries may look like.

Forecasting future tornado deaths and injuries can aid in planning efforts made by emergency managers, public officials, and the general public alike. Will there be a spatial shift in tornado casualties? Will tornado casualty rates increase? Am I living in an area of tornado casualty danger? These are questions that matter and can be answered through this work.

What are the goals of the project?

This project looks to leverage the newly discovered knowledge of tornado energy to understand the changing behavior of tornadoes and to link these changes to future deaths and injuries. The goals are threefold. First, this project looks to explain the combined effect the number of people and tornado energy have on tornado deaths and injuries. Second, this project looks to link climate change data to tornado energy. Third, this project looks to forecast future tornado deaths and injuries from the changing tornado behavior.