Theoretically speaking, if we could drop a bomb inside a tornado would it disrupt the air flow enough to stop?

Question

since a tornado operates on a rotating air mass, would an explosion disrupt the rotating air mass, or feed it or even stop it?

Answer 1

A modest tornado (F2) contains a lot of kinetic energy due to its velocity (v). The F2 (strong) tornado can have velocities up to 157 mph. [See source.]

The weight of air (W = Mg) gives us about 15 psi pressure at Earth's surface on average. Assuming the area (footprint) of an F2 tornado at ground level to be about 4,000 square feet, the area of a large house ~ 576,000 square inches, the weight of air in that tornado may be around 15 psi X 576,000 si ~ 8.6 million pounds. As W = Mg, the mass inside that F2 could be around M = 8.6 million pounds/32.2 ft/sec^2 = 270,000 slugs.

In which case, the kinetic energy of an F2 with winds at 120 mph = 176 fps would be approximately = KE = 1/2 Mv^2 = 1/2 270,000 (176)^2 = 3.9 billion ft-pounds of kinetic energy that would have to be dissipated by that proposed bomb. As 1 kilo ton (KT) of explosive energy = 3 X 10^9 foot pounds [See source.] and we have 3.9 X 10^9 ft-lbs in the F2 funnel, it is clear that a 1 KT bomb would approximate the energy contained in a modest sized tornado.

An F4 tornado can have twice the wind velocity of an F2. Because of the v^2 factor in kinetic energy, that means an F4 will have four times the KE of an F2. In which case, it would have the equivalent of a 4 KT bomb in its kinetic energy...now we're getting small nuke.

So, using a lot of hopfully reasonable assumptions and a lot of approximation, we have shown that even F4 tornados carry no more energy than a small nuke. But what we have not shown is what setting one of these off inside the vortex (or perhaps above it where the clouds that spawn it are) will do. But, drawing on physics, we can guesstimate.

First, such bombs manifest most of their energy as heat and blast, where blast is atmospheric overpressure that creates its own winds. Thus, we can guesstimate that much of the moisture in a tornado will be turned to heated or even superheated steam that will expand outward from the center of the explosion.

Similarly, the blast overpressures (pressure above the normal 15 psi or so) will create outward expanding winds from the center of the explosion. So both the steam and the winds will expand outward from the explosive center where the bomb went off.

These outward forces would certainly counter the inward forces of a rapidly spnning vortex. So, my guess, the posited bombs in the examples would likely blow the F2 and F4 apart. Unfortunately, they would also likely blow up other things nearby as well...there would be collateral damage.

Not to say the funnels would not reform, however. Which makes me think going after the cloud formations that spawned the funnels would be a more permanent fix than bombing the funnels themselves.

Thanks for the question, it was fun thinking it through.

Answer 2

This question gets asked a good deal regarding hurricanes. The energy released in even the largest yield nuclear blast would not even come close to the massive amount of energy contained in a hurricane. Plus, the hurricane would take the radioactive fallout from the nuclear blast and spread it across its path, compounding an already severe natural disaster.

A tornado is much smaller than a hurricane, and I am not sure whether a bomb, nuclear or not, would stop it. However, since tornadoes are much smaller, and usually occur with very little warning, I doubt anyone could deliver a bomb to the tornado in time to do any good.

You also have to think about that a tornado is a vortex. The energy falls off very rapidly away from its center. A bomb that had a comparable amount of energy to a tornado would release that energy in all directions, possibly causing much more damage than would the tornado itself.

Answer 3

Tornado's are caused by a difference in air temperature & pressure. If you were able to deliver a bomb ( a massive heat source ) to its center you would initially disrupt the airflow. However you'd probably give birth to a much more powerful tornado since you'd be increasing the differences between the air masses.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

it depends on the energy of the bomb. if it is greater than the wind force inside the tornado than it will disrupt it.

Very good question.

Answer 6

Probly...but then you'd kill the people anyway so what's the point?