The reason behind the change in tornado patterns remains unclear. The short length, unpredictable arrival and relatively small size of tornadoes make them difficult to study. But researchers suggest that climate change may be a possible explanation for the change in patterns. Why, I never would've expected that!
The weather phenomenon occurs during periods of atmospheric instability and when there are large differences in wind speed in a given area known as "wind shear," both of which could be affected by temperature increases.
I thought temperature variation drove a lot of the earth's weather; maybe even all of it.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, also shows an increased variability in the number of tornadoes from one outbreak to another. Higher variability means that large outbreaks that result in multiple tornadoes can be more common while the total number of tornadoes in a given year remains relatively constant.
Maybe more people have cell phone cameras, resulting in more reporting?
"The science is still open," says study co-author Michael Tippett, a climate and weather researcher at Columbia University, in a press release. "It could be global warming, but our usual tools, the observational record and computer models, are not up to the task of answering this question yet."
But don't you worry, son. A couple of more studies from big grants and the science will be settled, soon enough.