Tornado science
What is tornado damage estimation?
Tornado damage estimation uses wind intensity and exposure factors to understand potential storm impact.
Formula
Damage score formula
Damage Score= Wind Speed² × Affected Area × Building Factor / 1000
Wind speed has a major effect because velocity increases the energy and force of moving air.
Applications
Uses of tornado damage calculations
Students can explore meteorology, physics, engineering, and disaster risk modeling concepts.
Questions and answers
Calculator FAQ
How is tornado damage estimated?
The calculator combines wind speed, affected area, and building vulnerability into a simplified score.
Why does wind speed have a strong effect?
Wind speed is squared in the formula, so increases in velocity create much larger changes in impact.
Does this calculate real tornado damage?
No. Real tornado damage depends on structures, materials, location, debris, and many other factors.
What science concepts are used?
The calculator uses physics, meteorology, engineering, and simplified disaster risk concepts.