AbstractEffect of Surface Characteristics on Tornado Vortex SignaturesTrack: Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather Author It is thought that there are perhaps 20 to 25 tornado vortex signatures (Doppler radar indications of a strong rotation and possible imminent tornado) for every actual tornado touchdown. It is proposed that parent thunderstorms which do NOT produce tornadoes may give more clues to the role of local topography (roughness, slope, etc.) and perhaps changes in land cover/soil type, than those that do actually touch down. Surface characteristics underlying each TVS, collected in Arkansas for several outbreaks since 1990, as well as for days with warnings but few or no tornadoes, will be assessed for dominant topographic traits over their lifetime to note when, or if, a tornado was produced as well as changes to the signature itself (especially shear) with changes in topography. Mary Passe-Smith University of Central Arkansas Department of Geography 201 Donaghey Ave Conway, Arkansas 72035 United States Phone: 501-450-3280 Fax: 501-852-2926 E-mail: marysuep@uca.edu |