How coriolis force and the vertical wind shear affect the formation and development of tornadoes?
Coriolis force and wind shear and critical in tornado formation. Well, wind shear more so than coriolis force, but the coriolis force can enhance a severe thunderstorm. What is meant by wind shear is when, as you ascend through the thunderstorm, the wind changes direction, cyclonically, or counter-clockwise. This, one it strengthens, will produce what it called a mesocyclone, which is a larger, deep column of rotating air in the thunderstorm. The increased rotation and wind shear of the mesocyclone and wrap the storm around itself, creating what is called a tornadic vortex signature, or TVS. You can see them on the Doppler radar as a “hook echo” which basically means a tornado is about to form, or already has. The coriolis force can help in certain situation by increasing the amount of cyclonic circulation and therefore intensifying the storm at a much faster rate.
