Tornadoes seem to be growing more powerful. Scientists are learning more about their power, as well as how they form, through the latest scientific studies. And according to one of the latest theories, your eyes may be deceiving you.
Tornadoes don't really drop down from the clouds, as our eyes tell us. The opposite is true, according to a new study presented at the American Geophysical Union conference.
Study Shows Many Tornadoes Start Near the Ground
The research team in that study analyzed four tornadoes, finding that none of the tornadoes formed from the top down. In some cases, clear evidence showed that the rotation was present near the ground first.
Other tornadoes indicated that the rotation took place simultaneously through the whole column.
However, this theory is not new. But what's different now is that the scientists' conclusion is supported by high-resolution rapid scan data.
Hard to Swallow
Researchers admit that not all tornadoes form from the ground up, but they say many do. And that is difficult to swallow when people who are watching a funnel cloud swear they see something different happening.
