When we talk about tornadoes, we often think of a type of extreme weather phenomenon with great destructive potential. One of its variants is the waterspout , also known as a marine tornado. This is a visible weather phenomenon that resembles a funnel-shaped mass of clouds that rotates rapidly. It's like a conventional tornado, but it occurs over the surface of the sea.
In this article we are going to tell you what a marine sleeve is, how it is produced and what effects it has.
What is a marine sleeve
When significant atmospheric instability occurs and a tornado forms at sea level, we have what is known as a waterspout. This atmospheric phenomenon can be identified as a funnel-shaped mass of clouds that rotates rapidly. It descends from a base of cumulus clouds to the sea surface , causing the water to rise to a certain height. This is why it is called a waterspout.
By definition, a tornado is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs on land and generates devastating effects wherever it passes. In this case, when it passes over a surface of water, it is called a waterspout. A waterspout can also become a conventional tornado if it eventually hits land. Typically, when this happens, the tornado loses considerable intensity and eventually disappears. If we analyze a waterspout in terms of the negative consequences it can have on property or people, we should know that its impact is much less severe.
Unlike conventional tornadoes, waterspouts occur over the sea. This makes the potential risk of damage much lower. They can affect some ships at sea or fishing vessels. In Spain, we usually find these types of extreme weather phenomena in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands , and in eastern areas of the Cantabrian Sea. Although the violence of these phenomena is not extremely high, it is enough to become a serious danger to both fishing and recreational vessels. To learn more about the intensity of these phenomena, you can read about the different types of tornadoes.
How a marine sleeve is formed
Numerous studies have investigated how a storm surge develops. The findings have revealed that these meteorological phenomena occur in five different phases. Let's analyze each phase and the origin of a storm surge:
- Phase 1: dark spotDuring this phase, a dark, almost black disk forms on the water's surface. The existence of this disk implies that there is a column of air above the surface. During this phase, a small, funnel-shaped cloud may or may not be present.
- Phase 2: spiral. During this phase, spiral bands form around the aforementioned black spot. These bands alternate with each other between lighter and darker colors.
- Phase 3: foam ring. Above the initial dark spot, a foam-like vortex will begin to form from the water stirred up by the wind. At the same time, the vertical development of the funnel cloud known as the tuba begins.
- Phase 4: maturity. The ring formed of foam and the tuba reach a maximum height and length with a greater diameter. It is here where we see the meteorological phenomenon in its maximum splendor.
- Phase 5: dissipation. This phase often occurs abruptly numerous times. This is due to the cessation of one or more of the conditions that keep the storm surge active. Rainfall that occurs close to this meteorological phenomenon frequently affects the storm surge, causing cold downdrafts to begin the dissipation of the phenomenon. Another type of dissipation is when the storm surge enters land and, due to the force of friction and the change in density, eventually weakens until it disappears.
Key features
We can say that no two waterspouts are exactly alike. It is true, however, that they can be classified according to their intensity. Thus, they are classified as tornadic waterspouts and non-tornadic waterspouts. Each of these two types of waterspouts has its own main characteristics. Let's analyze each of them.
A tornadic waterspout is a phenomenon whose formation mechanism is assumed to be similar to that of a classic tornado. The only difference is that the event occurs at sea rather than on land. Some studies attempt to replace the term "tornadic" with a term associated with a storm, as it is not entirely clear that the formation mechanism of this phenomenon requires the existence of a powerful vortex, as is the case with conventional tornadoes.
On the other hand, we have non-tornadic waterspouts. These types of waterspouts are the most common off the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula. Their formation is associated with the combination of horizontal wind shear at sea level and high sea surface temperatures, creating conditions that favor waterspout development. Our coasts receive a large amount of solar radiation, causing the sea surface to heat up rapidly over time. The sea's acclimatization process is slower due to this high solar radiation. Therefore, waterspouts occur more frequently off our coasts. For more information on cloud formation and related phenomena, see How Clouds Form.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the meteorological phenomenon of the marine sleeve.