Unbeliever

Are there any solutions to the problem of tornadoes? How can we keep them from destroying so many lives and so much property? I would very much like to hear any possible solutions you can come up with. Or if you think the problem is insoluble, let me know why you think so.

I'll get us started with this discussion by saying that I've given the problem a bit of thought, and although it may be intractable, I don't think it is insoluble. At first I could only think of solutions that were logistically and/or economically unviable, such as building very large walls in strategic locations to block and/or channel the movement of air masses, or building large retractable domes that could cover buildings or cities during tornado-spawning thunderstorms. These are both obviously unworkable, so I decided to concentrate on the underlying causes of tornadoes.

When hot air moves north from the Gulf of Mexico and slams into cold air moving south from Canada, the resulting instability often causes chaotic atmospheric anomalies, producing tornadoes. If there were a buffer of warm air between the two air masses these conditions might be greatly reduced, or even eliminated. The question then becomes "how do we create this warm-air buffer?" The placement of artificial heating devices is another of those completely impractical solutions.

But what if we could somehow change the albedo of the region in question between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico? If we could enable more of the solar infrared radiation to be absorbed, to be re-radiated later, might that create such a warm-air buffer zone? I'm thinking that we could maybe grow darker wheat and other crops. This would reflect less of the sun's heat, causing a corresponding decrease in the albedo of the region, which might result in the formation of a buffer of warm air, allowing a more gentle mixing of the hot/cold air masses.

A possible solution? I don't know. There are some questions that need to be asked:

1) Is it scientifically and economically viable?
2) Would it be socially acceptable, or would people consider it on a par with "frankenfoods"?
3) Would it be effective?

I welcome any comments or other solutions that you might have.

Majestyk

Building our structures underground would help.

sourdough

build your house out of reinforced concrete,
make the windows from bulletproof glass or plastic.

LeftCoast

The answer to you first question is No, which renders the next two questions irrelevant.

Unless/Until large-scale weather modification is possible, there is no way to prevent tornadoes. They are a direct consequence of the way that the large thunderstorms that spawn them evolve. The only thing to do is to improve forecasting/prediction so as to give as much possible warning as to when and where tornadoes will strike and then make a point to stay away from mobile homes - I think I read recently that fully 50% of the fatalities from tornadoes can be attributed to people living in mobile homes. (To paraphrase a scientific phalacy - "Nature abhores a Trailer Park").

fuct_okc

<drunk Oklahoman>
Why stop them or even attempt to hide from them? The destructive force is something you can't really escape and for the most part they aren't really a huge problem.

Tornadoes are rare. When they do occur, they typically cause minimum amounts of damage and/or cause damage in low population areas.

The tornado(s) that caused havoc upon my region in 1999 was an extremely rare type of tornado .. an F5 (though some called it an F6)... that's something that's going to happen about every 50 to 60 years, just like the inevitable earthquake that will someday reek havoc on Memphis and St. Louis. The only difference is that storm clouds and tornadoes are ***beautiful*** .
</drunk Oklahoman>