A Statistical Analysis of Surface Roughness Influences on Tornadogenesis within the Southeastern United States

Considering the high-profile tornado events over the past decade in the region, it is extremely imperative to understand patterns of tornadogenesis within the Southeastern United States. Based on previous research, terrain and land use appear to be one of the most significant factors in tornadogenesis spatial patterns, especially in the Southeast. This study expands on a previous study that found surface roughness to be a statistically significant indicator of tornadogenesis in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee were analyzed due to having a similar "mirrored" pattern of land cover and topography compared to Arkansas. Tornadogenesis points in these states from the years 2002-2021 were used as the analytical points of reference and statistical methods were used to calculate significance. Establishing potential indicators of micro-regional tornado frequency will help forecasters and other risk mitigators to provide more geographically targeted tornado risk mitigation.