Imagine the scene: dark clouds gathering ominously overhead, threatening to unleash a torrential downpour. But that’s not all! Picture a wildfire raging nearby, adding fuel to the already chaotic mix. Now, visualize the colossal storm that ensues, engulfing everything in its path with billowing smoke, glowing embers, and scorching heat. This captivating sight is nothing short of a towering tempest, a symphony of nature’s elemental forces merging to create a mesmerizing spectacle that leaves us in awe.
When intense wildfires produce a combination of smoke and heat, they can give rise to fire-fueled thunderstorms known as pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb). These natural weather phenomena occur sporadically, but their impact can be devastating. In such instances, the convergence of fire and atmospheric conditions creates powerful storms that pose a significant threat. These pyroCb events are rare yet potentially catastrophic.
When wildfires rage, they unleash a fierce heat that compels vast quantities of smoke and blistering air to soar upwards. As this concoction ascends to greater heights within the Earth’s atmosphere, specifically the troposphere, it undergoes a transformation. The combination of decreasing air pressure and cooling temperatures causes the mixture to expand. Consequently, the moisture present in the air rapidly condenses, resulting in the creation of impressive fluffy clouds known as pyrocumulus clouds.
Imagine a situation where the perfect atmospheric conditions play a role in creating something awe-inspiring. When the air near the ground is hot and dry, while a cooler and wetter layer exists above it, the atmosphere becomes unstable in a convective manner. This instability causes the air to become increasingly turbulent, resulting in a collision between water droplets and ice crystals in pyrocumulus clouds. As this collision intensifies, an electrical charge builds up, transforming the entire system into a magnificent thunderhead that towers above. It’s truly a breathtaking phenomenon that showcases the power and beauty of nature coming together.
So imagine this: you’ve got these pyroCbs, these crazy thunderstorms that shoot up into the sky without even producing rain on the ground. They’re like rebels, breaking all the rules. And get this, they can actually go way higher than your average storm, soaring into the stratosphere, which is like 10 whole miles/kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Talk about reaching for the stars!
It’s no secret that pyroCbs are extremely hazardous. On February 7, 2009, Australia witnessed its most catastrophic fire outbreak ever, with three pyroCbs carrying fiery embers a staggering distance of 18 miles (30 kilometers) from their origin. This resulted in the ignition of lightning, setting ablaze fires even 62 miles (100 kilometers) away. These infamous fires, famously known as the Black Saturday bushfires, ravaged a combined area of 1,737 square miles (4,500 square kilometers), tragically claiming the lives of 173 individuals.
In the mesmerizing realm of extraordinary natural phenomena, let’s delve into the captivating tales of two sensational pyroCb events. The first took place amidst the dramatic Carr Fire near the enchanting town of Redding, California, back in 2018. This pyroCb was so powerful that it birthed a mind-boggling fire vortex with the intensity of a tornado, setting the scene ablaze with its astonishing winds. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the magnificent city of Canberra, Australia, a pyroCb of extraordinary proportions shocked the world in 2003. This awe-inspiring event unleashed a torrent of ominous black hail, casting a shroud of darkness upon the usually radiant sky, rendering it as dark as the midnight hour. These astonishing tales of pyroCbs remind us of the sheer power and majesty that Mother Nature possesses, never failing to leave us in complete awe and wonderment.
Thankfully, occurrences of these events are not very common. However, a study conducted in Australia in 2019 indicates that climate change might make conditions more suitable for the creation of pyroCbs in the future.
According to Nick Nauslar from the National Weather Service, there are usually about 25 to 50 instances of fire-related storms called pyroCb that happen globally per year. However, determining the precise timing of these storms continues to pose a difficulty for researchers and meteorologists.
“It’s still quite a challenge to predict,” remarked Nauslar. Despite scientists being able to assess the weather conditions prior to a fire, they still cannot accurately predict the precise impact that a wildfire will have on the lower atmosphere and subsequent weather conditions. Nauslar mentioned that the endeavor to explore pyroCbs is still in its early stages, with plenty more knowledge waiting to be uncovered.”
Did you know that wildfires were previously thought to be unable to reach the higher levels of the atmosphere? It turns out, these raging infernos called pyroCbs can actually have a significant effect on the stratosphere. They have the ability to inject soot, aerosols, and organic compounds up into the sky. This discovery has recently caught the attention of scientists who now recognize the surprising impact that these wildfires can have on our environment.
According to Mike Fromm, a meteorologist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., the notion that a firestorm could operate similarly to a volcano by injecting substances into the stratosphere was entirely unfamiliar. Since the late 1990s, Fromm has been examining pyroCbs using satellite instruments.
Imagine a scenario where smoke particles, generated by the intense heat and energy of pyroCbs, linger in the air for extended periods, ranging from a few days to several weeks, and sometimes even months. This astonishing phenomenon was observed in Canada back in 2017 when a colossal pyroCb event occurred, causing smoke to stay suspended in the upper regions of the stratosphere for a mind-boggling eight months. This incredible revelation was brought to light by a recent study published in the esteemed journal, Science. Curiously, the researchers behind the study used these elevated smoke particles as a sort of proxy to delve into the potential climatic and atmospheric implications of smoke plumes arising from nuclear explosions. The findings of this study shed new light on the mysterious and long-lasting presence of smoke particles in our atmosphere.
Although PyroCbs are not currently posing a threat of causing a nuclear winter, their potential impact on the ozone layer in the stratosphere remains a question. Fromm, in an interview with Science News, expressed the need to further comprehend, assess, and determine whether these pyroCb plumes have any significant climate implications. The investigation aims to shed light on the possibility of ozone depletion associated with these phenomena. As of now, there is still ongoing research to better understand the potential consequences of pyroCb plumes on our environment.
Hey there! So, I’ve got a super interesting story to share with you today. It was first published on Eos.org and now I’m bringing it to you as part of an awesome initiative called Covering Climate Now. This initiative aims to bring together journalists from all around the world to boost coverage of the climate story. So, let’s dive right into this intriguing piece, shall we?
When huge volcanic eruptions occur, pyrocumulus clouds can also be seen. An example of this happened during the remarkable eruption of Kīlauea in 2018. Over fissure 8 in Leilani Estates on Hawai’i Island, pyrocumulonimbus clouds developed, and they even had lightning strikes accompanying them.