Cycloidal marks

Cicrular cycloidal marks observed following an F4 tornado near Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1955

Cycloidal marks, also known as cycloidal damage swaths, are lineo-circular piles of debris that are produced by some powerful multiple-vortex tornadoes. ^{[1] [2]} Cycloidal marks are typically an indication that a tornado possessed suction vortices. Notable tornadoes that have produced cycloidal marks include the 2008 Parkersburg–New Hartford tornado, ^[3] 2016 Dodge City tornadoes and the 2022 Nullarbor Plain tornado. ^{[4] [5]} Cycloidal marks created by dust devils have been documented on Mars by the Mars Global Surveyor. ^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Tornado intensity
• Tornado damage survey

References

1. Wakimoto, Roger (October 4, 2021). "The Dodge City Tornadoes on 24 May 2016: Understanding Cycloidal Marks in Surface Damage Tracks and an Analysis of the Debris Cloud". University of Maryland . Retrieved February 6, 2025.
2. Butler, Kirstin. "The Remarkable Mind of Mr. Tornado". PBS . Retrieved February 6, 2025.
3. Lipar, Matej (November 2024). "Tornado scar on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia". Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
4. Wakimoto, Roger M.; Wienhoff, Zachary; Reif, Dylan; Bluestein, Howard B.; Lewellen, David C. (June 1, 2022). "The Dodge City Tornadoes on 24 May 2016: Understanding Cycloidal Marks in Surface Damage Tracks and Further Analysis of the Debris Cloud". Monthly Weather Review. 150: 1233–1246. doi:10.1175/MWR-D-21-0262.1. ISSN   0027-0644.
5. Schultz, Isaac (November 25, 2024). "Researchers Pinpoint Cause of Strange Scar in Australian Outback". Gizmodo. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
6. "PIA04564: Cycloidal Dust Devil Track". NASA . Retrieved February 6, 2025.
7. "Cycloidal Dust Devil Track". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Retrieved February 6, 2025.