Emmett Cobb, age 14, of Bemont , For his question:

 What causes a water spout?

A water spout is actually a sea going tornado. A land tornado forms in the turbulent air of a violent cloud, the same type of cloud, we think, which forms a water spout. In both cases, a finger of the cloud dips down to the surface of the earth. It is a whirling funnel of light, ascending winds   and its air works like a vacuum cleaner.

When it touches the surface of the earth, it sucks in material and lifts it aloft. A water spout sucks up a column of water from the sea. A twisting land tornado sucks up dirt and solid objects, crushing buildings and it may be strong enough to move a freight car.