Stuff You Should Know: Short Stuff – Tornado Alley

Hosts: Josh and Chuck (with Jerry sitting in for Dave)
Episode: Short Stuff: Tornado Alley
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

1. Introduction

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, hosts Josh and Chuck delve deeper into the phenomenon of tornadoes, focusing on the well-known Tornado Alley in the United States. With Jerry stepping in for Dave, the conversation navigates through geography, meteorological conditions, historical context, and the evolving understanding of tornado patterns in the face of climate change.

2. Definition and Geography of Tornado Alley

Josh begins by outlining Tornado Alley as a predominantly contested region in the United States, stretching from Texas up to the Dakotas and veering into states like Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. He explains, “Tornado Alley is considered such because it has the most tornadoes of anywhere else in the United States, which means that it has more tornadoes than anywhere else in the world” (01:29).

Chuck adds to the discussion by highlighting the vast, open plains characteristic of Tornado Alley, which contribute to the frequent and visible tornado activity: “They have a lot of that kind of weather happening, thanks to where they are, basically” (02:40).

3. Conditions for Tornado Formation

The hosts delve into the meteorological factors that make Tornado Alley a hotspot for tornadoes. Chuck describes the necessary conditions: “They form through instability in the atmosphere. So a lot of moist, warm air beneath that cooler, drier air. And then, something called wind shear, which is when winds are changing with height” (02:05). Josh elaborates, explaining how warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cooler, drier air from the west, creating the perfect environment for supercell thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes.

4. Tornadoes Beyond Tornado Alley

While Tornado Alley is notorious for its tornado activity, Josh points out that tornadoes can and do occur outside this region: “Anywhere you find that, where there's instability and wind shear, a tornado can break out. And they do break out outside of Tornado Alley all the time” (03:11). Chuck reinforces this by noting that tornadoes in the southeastern U.S., often referred to as "Dixie Alley," are becoming more frequent and destructive: “There are a lot more trees, dense forest. It's not these big, wide open plains” (04:08).

5. Historical Context and Terminology

The term "Tornado Alley" was coined in 1952 by Air Force weather casters Major Ernest J. Faubusch and Captain Robert C. Miller. Josh remarks on the timing, noting that it coincided with the commencement of tornado record-keeping in the United States: “In the United States, our records are. Our tornado activity records only date back to the 50s” (04:44). This historical perspective underscores the relatively recent scientific attention tornadoes have received.

6. Tornado Classification and Tracking

Josh and Chuck discuss the Enhanced Fujita Scale, introduced to rate tornado intensity based on damage assessment. Chuck explains the methodology: “If you're going to count tornadoes, you're literally going to do that. You're going to have people calling in to the weather service” (05:29). They emphasize the reliance on citizen reports and meteorologist validations to classify and count tornado occurrences, highlighting the limitations in tracking long-term trends due to the relatively short recording history.

7. Climate Change and the Future of Tornado Activity

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the potential impact of climate change on tornado patterns. Josh suggests that warming temperatures may lead to an eastward shift of Tornado Alley, coining the term "expanded tornado alleys" due to increased warm, humid air fueling tornado formation: “As the Earth warms, you're going to have more warmer, humid air” (10:03). However, Chuck raises counterpoints about the complexity of atmospheric changes, noting that climate warming could also reduce wind shear by diminishing cooler, drier air: “You'll have less wind shear, which means that, I don't know, it might be a wash” (10:27). The hosts agree that the relationship between climate change and tornado activity remains uncertain and requires further scientific investigation.

8. Cultural References and Conclusion

Towards the end of the episode, Chuck shares a light-hearted critique of the movie Twisters, contrasting it unfavorably with the original Twister film. Despite the scientific focus, this segment adds a relatable cultural touch to the discussion about tornadoes.

Concluding the episode, Josh and Chuck reflect on the challenges in predicting and understanding tornado behavior, emphasizing the ongoing need for research and advancements in meteorology.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh (01:29): “Tornado Alley is considered such because it has the most tornadoes of anywhere else in the United States, which means that it has more tornadoes than anywhere else in the world.”

• Chuck (02:05): “They form through instability in the atmosphere. So a lot of moist, warm air beneath that cooler, drier air. And then, something called wind shear, which is when winds are changing with height.”

• Josh (10:03): “As the Earth warms, you're going to have more warmer, humid air.”

This episode of Short Stuff offers an insightful exploration into Tornado Alley, dissecting its geographical boundaries, the science behind tornado formation, historical context, and the potential shifts in tornado activity due to climate change. Through engaging dialogue, Josh and Chuck provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of one of nature’s most formidable phenomena.