Mesocyclone Mesocyclone List of adjectival forms of place names Category="Meteorology"A mesocyclone is an area of vertical atmospheric rotation, typically 2-6 miles across. They are often found in the right-rear flank of Supercell thunderstorms, and are visible as a Hook echo on Doppler weather Radar. The presence of a mesocyclone can only be truly verified by radar, although visual clues such as curved inflow bands may be present.

Mesocyclones form when strong changes of wind speed and/or direction with height ("wind shear") sets the lower part of the atmosphere spinning horizontally. The updraft of a thunderstorm can then draw this area of spinning air from horizontal to vertical.

See also

External links