Expert: Donald Rosenfeld - 5/28/2011

Question
Has there been a study to determine whether a large, non-nuclear explosion within a tornado could disrupt it enough to lessen the damage it would cause to a community.  I've seen devices that cover a quarter mile or more that could be shot into a tornado at various levels.

Answer
Hi Tom

A large enough explosion could disrupt the organized wind field of a tornado but the idea of using explosives would not be approved by any government agency.

Here are a couple of links that may give you more info:

http://www.challenge.nm.org/Archive/99-00/FinalReports/033/1stpg.html

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=318460

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCCgeCloA3s