Asia’s tornado alley

By ⋅ April 28, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
Play
Download

Alabama tornado (BBC video)

Tornados figure in the Geo Quiz this time. We’re looking for the country outside of North America where severe twisters are most common. This nation suffered what’s thought to be the deadliest tornado in recorded history. It’s believed to have killed more than 1,300 people in 1989.

The South Asian country we’re talking about is the size of the state of Wisconsin. And it’s one of the most densely populated nations in the world.

So, where outside of North America are severe tornados most common? In Bangladesh! Tom Grazulis is a a tornado research meteorologist, and the founder of the Tornado Project. He also the author of ‘Tornado – Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm’ He joins us from North Danville, Vermont.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download MP3


Discussion

4 comments for “Asia’s tornado alley”

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1199163431 Dilip Chaudhuri

    The Bengali word for Tornados in Bangladesh is “Ghoornibatya” ( ঘূর্ণিবাত্যা )।

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1199163431 Dilip Chaudhuri

    The Bengali word for Tornados in Bangladesh is “Ghoornibatya” ( ঘূর্ণিবাত্যা )।

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1199163431 Dilip Chaudhuri

    The Bengali word for Tornados in Bangladesh is “Ghoornibatya” ( ঘূর্ণিবাত্যা )।

  • Anonymous

    The Bengali word for Tornadoes in Bangladesh is also “Ghurni Jhorh” – meaning literally, “Rotating Strom”. Two factors contributing to increased effect of Tornadoes in Bangladesh are Climate Change and Deforestation. Sea Level Rise (due to Global Warming) is predicted to drown one-third in Bangladesh by 2050, displacing as many as 60 million people. Sunderban, world’s largest mangrove forest in the south of Bangladesh used to screen the Tornadoes. The forest is now barely ten percent of what it used to be a hundred years ago. North America is among the worst contributer to Global Warming. Bangladesh is among the worst sufferers from that. The connection is both ironic and odd, now that both are now bearing the brunt. — Omar Huda, Los Angeles