Can interior pressure of a tornado be calculated?

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SUMMARY

The interior pressure of a tornado can be calculated using the centrifugal speed and radius of the tornado. For a tornado with a radius of 1/2 mile and a centrifugal speed of 200 mph, the calculation involves determining the centrifugal acceleration and the pressure gradient based on air density. Although the initial assumption of uniform rotation and fixed density is simplistic, it provides a foundational approach to estimating the interior air pressure. The pressure gradient can be calculated by integrating the centrifugal acceleration from the outer edge to the center of the tornado.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of centrifugal acceleration and its calculation
  • Knowledge of pressure gradients in fluid dynamics
  • Familiarity with the properties of air, including density
  • Basic principles of tornado dynamics and structure
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate centrifugal acceleration for various tornado sizes and speeds
  • Research pressure gradient calculations in rotating systems
  • Explore the impact of varying air density on tornado pressure estimates
  • Study advanced tornado dynamics and their effects on interior pressure
USEFUL FOR

Meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, and engineers interested in tornado dynamics and pressure calculations will benefit from this discussion.

skeptic2
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Can the interior pressure of a tornado be calculated from the centrifugal speed of the tornado and its radius (centripetal force)? For example, given a tornado with a 1/2 mile radius and a centrifugal speed of 200 mph, how much would the interior air pressure be?
 
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A simplistic calculation would assume that the air mass is rotating as a unit with a fixed angular velocity and a fixed density. [That's wrong, but it's a start].

You could then get the pressure gradient based on the density of air and the centrifugal acceleration at a given distance from the axis. Add up the pressure gradient along a path working from the outside to the center and you have an answer.

Why don't you begin by calculating the centrifugal acceleration at the rim?
 

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