Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations

Liu, Yuhan; Jiang, Yongqiang; Chen, Chaohui; Zhang, Yun; He, Hongrang; Chen, Xiong; Zhong, Ruilin

doi:10.3390/atmos16010108

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations

by

Yuhan Liu

¹,

Yongqiang Jiang

^1,*,

Chaohui Chen

^1,*,

Yun Zhang

¹,

Hongrang He

²,

Xiong Chen

¹ and

Ruilin Zhong

¹

College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China

²

College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Atmosphere 2025, 16(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16010108

Submission received: 27 November 2024 / Revised: 3 January 2025 / Accepted: 17 January 2025 / Published: 19 January 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Meteorology)

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Abstract

This study introduces a tornado perturbation model utilizing the cyclostrophic wind model, implemented through a shallow-water equation framework. Four numerical experiments were conducted: a single cyclonic wind perturbation (EXP1), a single low-geopotential height perturbation (EXP2), a cyclonic wind perturbation with a 0 Coriolis parameter (EXP3), and a single anticyclonic wind perturbation (EXP4). The outputs showed that in a static atmosphere setting, a small-scale cyclonic wind perturbation generated a tornado-like pressure structure. The centrifugal force in the central area exceeded the pressure gradient force, causing air particles to flow outward, leading to a pressure drop and strong pressure gradient. The effect of the Coriolis force is negligible for meso-γ-scale and smaller systems, while for meso-β-scale and larger systems, it begins to have a significant impact. The results indicate that a robust cyclonic and an anticyclonic wind field can potentially generate a pair of cyclonic and anticyclonic tornadoes when the horizontal vortex tubes in an atmosphere with strong vertical wind shear tilt, forming a pair of positive and negative vorticities. These tornadoes are similar but have different rotation directions.

Keywords: tornado; numerical simulation; tornado-like low; small scale

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, Y.; Jiang, Y.; Chen, C.; Zhang, Y.; He, H.; Chen, X.; Zhong, R. Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations. Atmosphere 2025, 16, 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16010108

AMA Style

Liu Y, Jiang Y, Chen C, Zhang Y, He H, Chen X, Zhong R. Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations. Atmosphere. 2025; 16(1):108. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16010108

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Yuhan, Yongqiang Jiang, Chaohui Chen, Yun Zhang, Hongrang He, Xiong Chen, and Ruilin Zhong. 2025. "Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations" Atmosphere 16, no. 1: 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16010108

APA Style

Liu, Y., Jiang, Y., Chen, C., Zhang, Y., He, H., Chen, X., & Zhong, R. (2025). Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations. Atmosphere, 16(1), 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16010108

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Numerical Simulation of Tornado-like Vortices Induced by Small-Scale Cyclostrophic Wind Perturbations

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