A whirlwind is a meteorological phenomenon.
A whirlwind is a meteorological phenomenon that involves an accelerated rotation of the wind in a vertical direction , forming a whirlpool . The generation of this phenomenon occurs when, in two sectors of a moving air mass, a difference in speed occurs, which gives rise to turbulence .
The air, upon impacting the ground and encountering different obstacles, begins to form a whirlpool . The rotation of the whirlwind takes place at high speeds , something that partly explains its violence when passing over the surface of the Earth. In addition, it usually presents a certain stability; This can be seen in the numerous captures that scholars have made over the decades, but also in works of fiction in which they appear as cones that destroy everything in their path.
A curious fact about whirlwinds is that they are also generated on other planets . On the other hand, on Earth it can form anywhere on its surface, and even in all seasons of the year.
Characteristics of a whirlwind
When a whirlwind rubs the ground, or when certain objects disturb it, various small eddies are created, even with a diameter much less than a meter. These small whirlwinds are easy to see on earthen soils, since the dust begins to form part of its body and shows its rotational movement and the presence of an axial zone without sufficient force to move the solid particles.
Tornadoes and waterspouts fall into this category, and the diameter of their whirlpools can measure several tens of meters; Furthermore, the violence with which they are produced causes them to raise a liquid column to great heights . The diameter of a tropical cyclone, on the other hand, can measure up to 100 kilometers; As if this were not enough, in your eye (the central part in which the activity shows relative calm) the speed with which the wind rotates can reach 200 km/h.
Vortices that appear in water can also be called whirlwinds. In this case, there is a rotating flow of water. Unlike what is usually shown in fiction, some of them are very small and absolutely harmless, so it is perfectly possible to swim alongside them and even pass through them.
The vortex that arises in the water can be called a whirlwind.
The term in music
In Colombia , a typical dance from Santander , Cundinamarca and Boyacá is called torbellino. The whirlwind is usually danced at religious celebrations and at certain social events.
This dance is used to accompany songs, couplets or rhymes that are usually part of dances typical of the folklore of Boyacá , meetings of a religious nature (called pilgrimages ), marriage celebrations and meetings of those who have created the couplets . In other words, the whirlwind is based on a type of popular music, given that it is practiced in informal situations or situations outside of the academic field. Some of the instruments used for its creation are the chucho, the requinto, the tiple and the jaws (also called carracas ).
Continuing with the music , Torbellino is the name of a Peruvian musical group that existed between 1997 and 1999 . This band emerged from a soap opera of the same name that had great success.
Whirlwind in colloquial language
In colloquial language, finally, it is often said that a whirlwind is a very dazed and restless individual or a situation where many things happen simultaneously.
«The entry of the young forward was a whirlwind that revolutionized the game: he scored two goals in five minutes», «The singer passed through the city like a whirlwind, offering three concerts in two days» y«Paula is a whirlwind: she studies, works, does volunteer work and helps around the house with household chores» son expresiones que reflejan este uso.