Theses and Dissertations
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3492-3459
Advisor
Brown, Michael
Committee Member
Mercer, Andrew
Committee Member
Rudzin, Johna
Date of Degree
5-15-2026
Original embargo terms
Immediate Worldwide Access
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Geoscience (Professional Meteorology/Climatology)
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Geosciences
Abstract
Throughout the years, much research has been dedicated to the physical processes leading to tornadogenesis and tornado decay. Much of this research is centered around the inner workings of the supercell itself. Recent studies are now showing that tornadogenesis and decay processes may be generated by interactions with the Earth’s surface. This study examines longtrack tornadoes from 2001-2016 in the southeast and lower Midwest regions of the United States. Utilizing the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and American Meteorological Society / Environmental Protection Agency / Regulatory Model (AERsurface) surface roughness values, efforts are made to see if statistical significance is evident between the starting and ending vertices of these tracks and if there is a seasonality factor between the two regions caused by a change in land cover type. Using bootstrapping, statistical significance can be determined, answering these questions.
Recommended Citation
Dison, Joshua Morgan, "Regional variability in tornado tracks: A GIS-based study of surface roughness and land cover differences between the lower Midwest and southeast United States" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 6885.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/6885
