VORTEX

A vortex is a temporary spiral movement around an axis line.  It gives rise to a temporary form because of the physical medium in which it takes place such as air, liquid, fire, smoke, etc.

Vortexes in nature can take many forms, for example whirlpools, dust devils and tornadoes.

Dust and particle vortexes

Liquid vortexes

Eyes of the vortex

Natural whirlpools

The vortex in Hayle harbour only appeared a few times a year.

It was a quirk of Victorian engineering devised to stop the harbour silting up. Water would be stored in a pool at high tide and, once the tide had retreated, released back into the harbour to wash away the sand.

The water would get into the pool through a tunnel beneath a quay. But sometimes the tide would come back in faster than the water could pass through the tunnel. This would create the whirlpool.

Natural hurricane.

Below an image of the eye of hurricane Isabel taken from the ISS.
(Hurricane v. Tornado?)

Ring Vortex