The discussion revolves around estimating the total energy and power of large tornadoes, with a specific interest in figures related to the Joplin tornado. Participants explore general estimates and comparisons with other natural phenomena, such as hurricanes.
Participants do not reach a consensus on the exact energy and power estimates, and the discussion includes varying estimates and assumptions regarding the characteristics of tornadoes.
The estimates provided depend on assumptions about the duration a tornado is on the ground and the energy intake during that time. There are also limitations in the data regarding the variability of tornado sizes and energy outputs.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wtwistqa.htmQ: How much power does the strongest tornado have? And, I know Twister is not true but can a tornado be a mile wide?
Answered by: Joe Schaefer, director, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, Norman, Okla.
A: The total energy in a tornado is relatively low. A typical tornado contains 10,000 kilowatt-hours, while a hurricane contains 10,000,000,000 kilowatt-hours. (For comparison, a Hydrogen Bomb also contains 10,000,000,000 kilo-watt hours.) However, because a tornado is so much smaller than a hurricane, the energy density (energy per unit volume) of a tornado is about 6 times greater for a tornado than for a hurricane. In terms of energy density, a tornado is the strongest of nature's storms.
In a study of 34 years of tornado tracks (over 22,800) storms, it was found that the median tornado had a path length of 0.3 miles, and a width of 0.1 mile. But tracks 31 miles or longer were reported with 17 tornadoes, and 60 tornadoes had tracks that were at lease one mile wide!
russ_watters said:Surprisingly little: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wtwistqa.htm
If the typical tornado is on the ground for 15 min (guess), that's 40 MW of power.