Global warming increases frequency and geographical distribution of tornadoes in Turkey

Within the past twenty years, tornados have spread across different parts of the world, mainly in the Gulf of Mexico and in the US.

Global warming has caused a rise in surface and atmospheric temperatures, evaporation and water vapor, which in turn have increased the frequency and geographical distribution of tornadoes across Turkey.

“30 years ago, tornados would mostly occur in the Gulf of Antalya and İskeredun in the Mediterranean. But within the past 20 years, the number of tornados and their geographical distribution has increased,” Prof. Türkeş said.

“Nowadays, tornados can be seen in all of the country’s coastline, including the Marmara Sea, the Black Sea Coast, the South Western Anatolian coasts, İzmir region, Edremit Bay, the Antalya Bay in the Western Mediterranean and Iskenderun Bay in the Eastern Mediterranean," he added.

The professor said that the tornado that occurred in İzmir's Çeşme district last winter and on Dec. 7 was related to the passage of the cold front of a Mediterranean cyclone.

"In the past, such humid and warm weather would not occur during this season. Global warming affects both surface temperatures and evaporation, which can be much more severe as the moisture content of the air increases. As climate change increases the severity of global warming, this seems to trigger more tornadoes. The riskiest places for tornadoes are located around the Marmara Sea, West and East Black Sea coasts, Edremit and İzmir gulfs, Çeşme Peninsula and Southwest Anatolian coasts," he said.