| There has been increasing awareness that thermodynamic environments which lead to the production of tornadoes exhibit regional variations, depending upon the geographic region in which they occur. This study addresses the intraregional sensitivity of the Southern United States to thermodynamic parameters associated with tornadic activity through a comparison of tornadic air masses within the study region. Results of this study indicate that statistically significant differences exist in the thermodynamic parameters associated with tornado producing storms in the western versus the eastern portion of the study area, particularly with respect to recognition of this spatial variability in thermodynamic parameters will improve the ability of meteorologists to identify potential tornadic situations within the study region, thus allowing the opportunity to provide advanced warning to the general public with respect to these events. |
