Seventy-five percent of the world’s tornadoes occur in the United States during the late spring and early summer months, when wa
rm moist air from the tropics rises to meet cold air descending from Canada. As the warm tropical air rises, it condenses quickly into cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds can then evolve into cumulonimbus clouds, which eventually can form super cells (thunderstorms). Wind moving in various directions causes the condensing air to spin like a top. If the resulting funnel is able to stretch between the bottom of the cloud and the ground, it becomes a tornado. Which of the following would increase the intensity of the tornado? A. decrease in wind speed B. decrease in condensation C. increase of cold air D. increased rate of evaporation
An increased rate of evaporation would increase the intensity of a tornado because it increases the amount of warm air rising into the atmosphere. The more warm air that rises, the bigger the updraft that forms in the thunderstorm, and the stronger the tornado will be.
An increased rate of evaporation would allow the funnel to grow increasingly larger as the storm updraft takes in warm moist air at a more rapid rate. This would also increase the strength and speed of the tornado's winds. With that said, your best answer is D.
