Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019)
This study evaluates the spatial-temporal patterns in Virginia tornadoes using the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center’s Severe Weather GIS (SVRGIS) database. In addition to descriptive statistics, the analysis employs Kernel Density Estimation for spatial pattern analysis and space-tim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/10/5/310 |
| _version_ | 1797535052213518336 |
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| author | Michael J. Allen Thomas R. Allen Christopher Davis George McLeod |
| author_facet | Michael J. Allen Thomas R. Allen Christopher Davis George McLeod |
| author_sort | Michael J. Allen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates the spatial-temporal patterns in Virginia tornadoes using the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center’s Severe Weather GIS (SVRGIS) database. In addition to descriptive statistics, the analysis employs Kernel Density Estimation for spatial pattern analysis and space-time cubes to visualize the spatiotemporal frequency of tornadoes and potential trends. Most of the 726 tornadoes between 1960–2019 occurred in Eastern Virginia, along the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Consistent with other literature, both the number of tornadoes and the tornado days have increased in Virginia. While 80% of the tornadoes occurred during the warm season, tornadoes did occur during each month including two deadly tornadoes in January and February. Over the 60-year period, a total of 28 people were killed in the Commonwealth. Most tornado activity took place in the afternoon and early evening hours drawing attention to the temporal variability of risk and vulnerability. Spatial analysis results identify significant, non-random clusters of tornado activity and increasing temporal frequency. While this study improves weather-related literacy and addresses a need in the Commonwealth, more research is necessary to further evaluate the synoptic and mesoscale mechanisms of Virginia tornadoes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:39:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03f0f2d702a64d2a94974c3150c96a0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2220-9964 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:39:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
| spelling | doaj.art-03f0f2d702a64d2a94974c3150c96a0b2023-11-21T18:37:36ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642021-05-0110531010.3390/ijgi10050310Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019)Michael J. Allen0Thomas R. Allen1Christopher Davis2George McLeod3Geography Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAGeography Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USACenter for Geospatial Science, Education & Analytics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USACenter for Geospatial Science, Education & Analytics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAThis study evaluates the spatial-temporal patterns in Virginia tornadoes using the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center’s Severe Weather GIS (SVRGIS) database. In addition to descriptive statistics, the analysis employs Kernel Density Estimation for spatial pattern analysis and space-time cubes to visualize the spatiotemporal frequency of tornadoes and potential trends. Most of the 726 tornadoes between 1960–2019 occurred in Eastern Virginia, along the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Consistent with other literature, both the number of tornadoes and the tornado days have increased in Virginia. While 80% of the tornadoes occurred during the warm season, tornadoes did occur during each month including two deadly tornadoes in January and February. Over the 60-year period, a total of 28 people were killed in the Commonwealth. Most tornado activity took place in the afternoon and early evening hours drawing attention to the temporal variability of risk and vulnerability. Spatial analysis results identify significant, non-random clusters of tornado activity and increasing temporal frequency. While this study improves weather-related literacy and addresses a need in the Commonwealth, more research is necessary to further evaluate the synoptic and mesoscale mechanisms of Virginia tornadoes.https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/10/5/310Virginiatornadoesspace-time cubespatial analysis |
| spellingShingle | Michael J. Allen Thomas R. Allen Christopher Davis George McLeod Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information Virginia tornadoes space-time cube spatial analysis |
| title | Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) |
| title_full | Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) |
| title_short | Exploring Spatial Patterns of Virginia Tornadoes Using Kernel Density and Space-Time Cube Analysis (1960–2019) |
| title_sort | exploring spatial patterns of virginia tornadoes using kernel density and space time cube analysis 1960 2019 |
| topic | Virginia tornadoes space-time cube spatial analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/10/5/310 |
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