Almost like a building of 20 stories. What is the water tornado that sank Mike Lynch's giant yacht in Sicily: the billionaire himself is missing in action
A water tornado struck the harbor where the luxury yacht of British businessman Mike Lynch was moored near the Italian city of Palermo off the coast of Sicily. As a result, the yacht was smashed and it went down.
According to The Gardian, the businessman himself, his 18-year-old daughter and six other people are reported missing. The case has drawn attention to an ocean phenomenon called a "water tornado." How do they form and what risk do they pose?
Rescue boats searching for missing people from a yacht
What is a water tornado
A water tornado is an intense columnar vortex (usually in the form of a funnel-shaped cloud) that occurs over a body of water and can reach the height of a 20-story building. They fall into two categories: water tornadoes in good weather and tornadoes that occur during ocean tornadoes that form during storms.
A water tornado is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and can reach the height of a 20-story building.
In good weather, a water tornado usually forms along the dark, flat base of a line of scattered billowy clouds. Water tornadoes of this type form and dissipate quickly and have a life cycle of less than 20 minutes.
Tornadic tornadoes that develop during thunderstorms can form over water or move from land to water and have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are referred to as "over-water tornadoes." Such a water tornado is accompanied by strong winds, large hail, thunder and lightning.
Tornado tornadoes can form over water or move from land to water.
The tornado that struck the 55-meter yacht appears to have been a tornadic tornado, and originated from one of the many storms that have swept through Italy in recent days.
Water tornadoes are usually more common in tropical waters, but can appear anywhere, and those associated with severe storms can produce wind speeds of more than 160 kilometers per hour.
What can happen if you get caught in a water tornado
The wind energy during this natural phenomenon can cause damage and injuries, but the biggest risk is from a so-called knockdown, which can tear off a boat's mast. Although yachts are generally more difficult to capsize than smaller dinghies, a knockdown occurs when a yacht is struck by wind or waves with enough force to push the mast parallel to the water. The most serious scenario occurs when the mast drops below the waterline.
The link between water tornadoes and climate deterioration
The increase in the intensity and frequency of severe weather events has been attributed to the climate crisis, although the link between tornadoes and the climate emergency is not fully understood.
"Rising global temperatures due to climate change means warmer air, which allows it to hold more moisture. This increases the likelihood of thunderstorms, leading to more severe storms and more lightning strikes. And heavy downpours will lead to localized flash flooding," the Royal Meteorological Society said.
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