Final answer:
A developing tornado is indeed called a funnel cloud until it makes contact with the ground, which is a true statement. Tornadoes exhibit rotational motion with maximum wind speeds at the bottom of the funnel. They form from supercells that have a rotating column of air, which becomes vertical to create a tornado.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement A developing tornado is called a funnel cloud until it makes contact with the surface is true. A funnel cloud becomes a tornado once it reaches the ground. Tornadoes are associated with severe weather like supercells and are characterized by their violent, rotating column of air. The destructive power of tornadoes is immense, with wind speeds that can exceed 500 km/h, especially at the bottom of the funnel where the radius is smallest and rotation is fastest.
In understanding tornado formation, it's important to recognize that they originate from severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells with rotating columns of air. When this rotation shifts from horizontal to vertical, a tornado can form. The eye of the storm, or the center of rotation, typically experiences weaker winds, as tangential velocity decreases with an increase in the radius of curvature.
As for storm chasing, it's a risky activity due to the unpredictable nature of tornadoes, which can change direction without warning. The region most prone to tornadoes in the United States, known as tornado alley, is found between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains.