Question:
Does horizontal movement of a tornado along the
ground detract from the rotational forces present within the
vortex i.e. cause the axial rotation of the system to
decelerate?
Replies:
The dynamics of tornados are not well understood (and that is an
understatement), so a yes/no answer is not possible. Hurricanes are
much better understood and in the case of hurricanes, fast
horizontal motion usually means a reduction in rotational motion.
Hurricanes behave differently, sometimes very differently. For
example, in rare cases horizontal tornados have been observed.
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