Mesotsüklist

Mesotsüklist is a term used in meteorology to describe a rotating column of air within a thunderstorm's updraft that can potentially lead to the formation of a tornado. This rotating column is a crucial precursor to tornadogenesis. The mesocyclone is typically several kilometers wide and is a significant feature of a supercell thunderstorm, a type of storm characterized by a deep, persistently rotating updraft. The rotation within the mesocyclone develops from horizontal rotation within the storm that is tilted vertically by the updraft. As the updraft strengthens and stretches the rotating air column, it narrows and spins faster, a process similar to a figure skater pulling in their arms to spin faster. Detecting mesocyclones is a primary function of Doppler radar, which can measure the velocity of precipitation particles within the storm. The presence of a mesocyclone on radar is a strong indicator that a tornado may be developing or is already in progress. Not all mesocyclones produce tornadoes, and the exact mechanisms by which they evolve into tornadoes are still an area of active research.