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waterspout
Sign in to saveAlso known as water tornado, non-supercell tornado over water
thumb|upright=1.3|A waterspout near Thailand in 2016
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- Waterspout near Cap de Formentor, Mallorca 2006-09-25.jpg
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- Waterspouts
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- purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_01001487
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~12 min read
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Characteristics
- Climatology
- Formation
- Types
- Non-tornadic
- Tornadic
- Snowspout
- Impacts
- Human
- Natural
- <span class="anchor" id="SWI"></span> Research and forecasting
- Myths
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|upright=1.3|A waterspout near Thailand in 2016
A waterspout is a rotating column of air that occurs over a body of water, usually appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud in contact with the water and a cumuliform cloud. There are two types of waterspout, each formed by distinct mechanisms. The most common type is a weak vortex known as a "fair weather" or "non-tornadic" waterspout. The other less common type is simply a classic tornado occurring over water rather than land, known as a "tornadic", "supercellular", or "mesocyclonic" waterspout, and accurately a "tornado over water". A fair weather waterspout has a five-part life cycle: formation of a dark spot on the water surface; spiral pattern on the water surface; formation of a spray ring; development of a visible condensation funnel; and ultimately, decay. Most waterspouts do not suck up water.