Cause and Effect of Hurricanes and Tornadoes - Essay Example

Hurricanes are caused when clouds carrying warm moisture develop in open bodies of water, such as oceans or seas. When heated air from these surfaces begins to rise, it becomes absorbed by the clouds, which then condense and turn into thunderclouds (Abbott 263). As the hot air rises, cooler air fills in the spaces that are left. The Earth, spinning on its axis, causes the air to spiral upwards, which causes the winds to rotate even faster. A hurricane has then been created, bringing with it strong winds that can reach up to two hundred miles per hour. A tornado is caused by a condition known as wind shear, which is when the speed or direction of wind changes with altitude.

This can separate the updraft and downdraft of a thunderstorm, and if the wind shear is strong enough, it can cause horizontal vorticity (Abbott 239). Horizontal vorticity can be turned vertically by the updraft of the storm, which causes rotation. This rotation causes a tornado funnel to form, and thus a tornado. Tornadoes can produce winds up to three hundred and eighteen miles per hour, and they can cover groups exceeding a mile at a time. These two weather conditions are capable of producing winds that can rip trees from the ground, toss vehicles, and tear homes from their foundations.

They are both categorized based on size, wind speed, and level of destruction; while many people and buildings are able to survive Category One hurricanes or F2 tornadoes, the chances drastically decrease during a Category Five hurricane or an F5 tornado. When people are unable to find the proper shelter, such as basements or designated bunkers, they put themselves in danger of becoming victims of these horrific weather phenomena. Similarly, when people are not given enough warning to find a safe place to wait out the storm, they place themselves in the path of destruction.

Each year, approximately two thousand people die because of hurricanes and tornadoes. Thousands more lose their homes and all of their earthly possessions. While many of these people are grateful to have at least escaped with their lives and their friends and family close by, they are still left with the tedious task of rebuilding their lives. Six years after the devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, people are still cleaning up their streets and rebuilding homes and businesses. The tornados currently taking place in the south will leave thousands of people without homes for weeks, even months, or years. Many lives have been lost and people are left with very little to rebuild.