Tornadoes 101 | National Geographic

What is a tornado?

• A type of cloud that produces heavy rain

• A powerful, spinning column of air that stretches from the ground to the clouds

• A strong earthquake that causes ground shaking

• A large body of water that forms during a storm

Which country experiences the greatest overall number of tornadoes and the most intense ones?

• United Kingdom

• United States

• Australia

• Japan

How do the initial wind patterns differ in the formation of non-supercell and supercell tornadoes?

• Non-supercell tornadoes begin with horizontal winds that turn upright, while supercell tornadoes begin with vertical winds that roll horizontally.

• Non-supercell tornadoes begin with vertical winds that roll horizontally, while supercell tornadoes begin with horizontal winds that turn upright.

• Non-supercell tornadoes only form over water, while supercell tornadoes only form over land.

• Non-supercell tornadoes are caused by low pressure, while supercell tornadoes are caused by high pressure.

What is the highest rating a tornado can receive on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, indicating incredible damage?

• EF0

• EF1

• EF3

• EF5