NASA Made a Rare Flight Right Through a Thundercloud Formed by a Wildfire (vice.com) 8
For years, Naval Research Laboratory meteorologist David Peterson has been obsessed with one of Earth's rarest atmospheric spectacles: thunderclouds formed by raging wildfires. Last week, he became one of the only people on Earth to fly straight through one. From a report: Peterson is the lead forecaster for Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX-AQ), a joint NASA and NOAA-led field campaign that's spending the summer intensively studying wildfire smoke from the ground, the air, and satellites. On August 8, he rode shotgun as NASA's DC-8 research aircraft passed directly through an anvil cloud as it was developing over the 45,000-acre Williams Flats fire currently burning in the Pacific Northwest.
Over the next few hours, the plane would conduct the most detailed reconnaissance ever from within a pyrotechnic weather system, making observations and collecting samples that will help researchers to better understand the nature of these dramatic events and how they can impact Earth's climate. "Just being there was the most amazing experience I've ever had while working in science," Peterson said. Pyrocumulonimbus clouds (pyroCbs) only form when conditions are just right -- you need a special combination of atmospheric instability, moisture, and loads of wildfire heat to create an updraft.
Over the next few hours, the plane would conduct the most detailed reconnaissance ever from within a pyrotechnic weather system, making observations and collecting samples that will help researchers to better understand the nature of these dramatic events and how they can impact Earth's climate. "Just being there was the most amazing experience I've ever had while working in science," Peterson said. Pyrocumulonimbus clouds (pyroCbs) only form when conditions are just right -- you need a special combination of atmospheric instability, moisture, and loads of wildfire heat to create an updraft.
Rare? (Score:2)
I'm surprised that that's considered rare. I would have thought particulate matter rising would be excellent for rain formation.
Re: (Score:3)
True, except you still need the moisture to bind to those particulates. Also, the heat can't be too high or it will prevent formation of clouds and push out the moisture.
It sounds simple, but it's not. As the article relates, there are several factors which have to come together in just the right amounts to create this effect.
Re: (Score:2)
Now I feel special, because I've been rained on by some of these clouds while on Lake Shasta.
And then we're going to... (Score:3)
Scientist: and then we're going to fly THROUGH the thundercloud... ...that's ON FIRE
Pilot: that's generally not a good idea
Scientist:
Crap grammar strikes again (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
No, "only" can mean one categeory, not necessarily exactly one individual.
Re: Crap grammar strikes again (Score:2)