Question for the expert meteorologists

[CocoaBill]

Are these helocity figures enough to produce F0 tornados or am I missing some vital components?

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ldis/4km/he ... _loop.html

[Stormsfury]

This is a totally different scenario ... though, waterspouts, well, I won't rule that out ... the wind flow is unidirectional in all levels ... not much to induce rotation at the surface ...

Also, in almost all cases, any quick spinup would normally occur on the NE side of a system where wind shear is generally the strongest...

[VanceWxMan]

HELICITY - A property of a moving fluid, such as air, representing the potential for helical flow (flow that follows a corkscrew pattern). Computed from the vertical wind profile of the lower atmosphere and measured relative to the motion as a storm, it is used to forecast the formation of mesocyclones.


0-1 km Helicity - This is a derived parameter which quantifies the tendency for airflow in the layer from ground-level to a height of 1-kilometer (approximately 3300 feet above ground-level) to acquire rotation, and thus increase the potential for existing or future convective storms to develop mesoscale circulation's, possibly leading to tornado development. An assumption inherent in the helicity calculation is that any storms which form will move 30 degrees to the right of, and 75% of the magnitude of, the mean 0-6 kilometer wind flow (ground-level to approximately 20,000 feet above ground-level). This deviant storm motion is common with severe storms, and approximates "storm-relative" helicity. Helicity has units of energy and can therefore be interpreted as a measure of wind shear energy (directional wind shear). Helicity is depicted in units of m**2/s**2 (meters squared per second squared). If there is no directional wind shear, helicity will be zero. If the wind backs (turns counter-clockwise) with height then helicity will be negative, if wind veers (turns clockwise) with height then helicity will be positive. Helicity values are conditional - i.e. high values can occur without the necessary conditions to produce deep convection. Therefore, if helicity values are high, favorable atmospheric instability and lift must also be present in order to produce a threat for rotating storms. If convection occurs or is forecast (especially "shallow convection" or cells with small vertical extent; common along or ahead of Winter cold fronts, or within tropical cyclone outer rainbands), high values of 0-1 km helicity can be indicative of potential severe weather.


This is just an INDICATOR of a possible area for development. However there are many more things that have to come together even for an F0 to form. Looking at the values in the link that you presented the values would indicate that yes there is enough shear showing that could get a storm to develope a mesocyclone, but this is just one product.

Aaron

[CocoaBill]

thank you for the answers - just trying to learn as an amateur