EFFECTS OF ATOMIC EXPLOSIONS ON THE FREQUENCY OF TORNADOES IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

The upward trend in reported tornadoes during the past few years has led many people to suspect that atomic explosions are responsible for the increase. Because there is no known physical reason for believing that atomic explosions should affect the tornado frequency, the records of tornadoes and atomic explosions are examined in considerable detail to find evidence which will support or contradict this popular hypothesis. It is found that tornado reports have always been incomplete and that much of the recent upward trend in tornado frequency can be accounted for by improvements in the tornado reporting system. A comparison of the distribution of tornadoes and of debris from an atomic explosion in time and space does not support the hypothesis that atomic explosions tend to increase the tornado frequency.