Still Waters Posted November 20, 2012 #1 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Canberra researchers say they have confirmed the first case of a fire tornado from analysis of evidence collected during the January 2003 Canberra fires. "The various data were combined and analysed to provide information on the occurrence and behaviour of the phenomenon known as pyro-tornadogenesis," Mr McRae said. "Researchers had speculated about the ability of a fire to produce a tornado, but this is the first documentation of the creation of a true tornado by the convection column of a large fire," he said. http://www.smh.com.a...1119-29liv.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted November 20, 2012 #2 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Really glad we don't get that type of tornado here in Oklahoma... The regular F5 type is quite exciting enough ... Edited November 20, 2012 by Taun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug1029 Posted November 20, 2012 #3 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Really glad we don't get that type of tornado here in Oklahoma... The regular F5 type is quite exciting enough ... Sorry, but.... The phenomenon is also called a fire whirl and has been known to fire service personnal for decades. It's in the USFS fire behavior manuals. And we do get them in Oklahoma. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Fish Posted November 20, 2012 #4 Share Posted November 20, 2012 they were quite common in Dresden at one time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likely Guy Posted November 21, 2012 #5 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Sorry, but.... The phenomenon is also called a fire whirl and has been known to fire service personnal for decades. It's in the USFS fire behavior manuals. And we do get them in Oklahoma. Doug I fought forest fires in British Columbia for 9 years. They're very well known. But, I guess if there isn't a scientist around to verify it, it never happened? Edit: Oh. From the article; [The research team also showed how a fire tornado is fundamentally different from a fire whirl, which is commonly associated with fires. "Tornadoes are associated with thunderstorms and as such they are anchored to a thundercloud above, and are able to sporadically lift off the ground. Fire whirls, on the other hand, are anchored to the ground and do not require the presence of a thunderstorm," Dr Sharples said. The study provides more insight into the behaviour of thunderstorms that form over large fires, which is currently the subject of an international research effort.] Well, I can't say that I've ever fought a fire during a thunderstorm. But the article said that whirls are anchored to the ground, and that's not true. Sometimes they're over the treetops (100 ft. + in the air). Edited November 21, 2012 by Likely Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted November 21, 2012 #6 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Sorry, but.... The phenomenon is also called a fire whirl and has been known to fire service personnal for decades. It's in the USFS fire behavior manuals. And we do get them in Oklahoma. Doug I was being a bit facetious.... I've seen several smaller versions around, especially in forest and range fires... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug1029 Posted November 21, 2012 #7 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I fought forest fires in British Columbia for 9 years. They're very well known. But, I guess if there isn't a scientist around to verify it, it never happened? They probably meant it was previously unknown to THEM. Fire whirls form when the air is unstable. Cumulus clouds are a warning that violent fire behavior is possible. They also form when updrafts from a fire punch a hole in an inversion layer. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasina Posted November 21, 2012 #8 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) You really can't get more radical then 'fire tornado', except maybe 'shark hurricane' or 'razor typhoon'. Edited November 21, 2012 by Hasina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobalt60 Posted November 21, 2012 #9 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Really glad we don't get that type of tornado here in Oklahoma... The regular F5 type is quite exciting enough ... yet, anyway...I'm right between OKC and Lawton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashotep Posted November 23, 2012 #10 Share Posted November 23, 2012 A regular tornado is bad enough. I've heard of these before can't believe they are just now confirming them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted November 26, 2012 #11 Share Posted November 26, 2012 (edited) Sorry, but.... The phenomenon is also called a fire whirl and has been known to fire service personnal for decades. It's in the USFS fire behavior manuals. And we do get them in Oklahoma. Doug From the article: 'The research team also showed how a fire tornado is fundamentally different from a fire whirl, which is commonly associated with fires'. Edit: They said it was an F2 with a base towards 500m in diametre!! Edited November 26, 2012 by Timonthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted November 26, 2012 #12 Share Posted November 26, 2012 yet, anyway...I'm right between OKC and Lawton! If you live anywhere near Chickasha you are right on the old tornado highway... US 44... Seems like all the storms follow that road... But on the good side, you are only about 26 miles away from Asgard! (Broxton).... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now