As we have said on more than one occasion, nature often surprises us in the most terrifying way that it knows.One of those ways is, without a doubt, the eruptions of some volcanoes, one of the events more impressive and fearsome that our planet can offer us .The eruption of a volcano is terrible, suffocating, noisy and also usually covers the entire terrain around a dense and thick fog accompanied by ash that can even last several weeks They can also be accompanied by some volcanic lightning , which can add a few electric fireworks and a great deal of noise to a whole spectacle, in itself ostentatious.
Catching a volcanic lightning
Scientists, to date, even knowing their existence, haven't h They had never heard a volcanic lightning due to the volcano's own thunder, but finally, in March 2018, the research team led by Matthew Haney of the US Geological Survey managed to register a authentic and terrifying volcanic thunder .Although it is something that is scientifically considered a true success, the recording is not as impressive as one would expect.
The researchers recorded the eruption of the Bogoslof volcano, located in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.It was an event known worldwide for the consequences that it had: massive ash clouds that caused a serious problem throughout the air area of the territory.In addition, it was difficult to access it since the Bogoslof volcano is, in its for the most part, under water, so their access was complicated.
Mainly due to that difficulty of access, Haney's team of researchers had to register about 60km away.The fact that, despite the distance the team was from, this volcanic lightning could be recorded is further evidence of the strength and power of these natural events.
The The question we ask ourselves is: how were you so sure that this noise came from a volcanic lightning and not from the volcano's own erupting noises? First, his recordings were verified with volcanic lightning maps in the area to be able to decipher the exact moment.They realized that these noises were very different and also came from a slightly different direction from that of the eruption.They took place 6 different times, with an interval of three minutes after the maximum point of the ray.So the researchers concluded that it was "almost certainly" a thunder caused by that same ray.
Learn to listen
In order to detect a volcanic ray and isolate it from any other sound we can hear, it is important to know how the volcanic ray occurs.This phenomenon is relatively new now that until recently it was completely unknown how this phenomenon occurred, the scientists were not really able to detect it until 2016.Listen to it, although we imagined a great noise, either because of the distance on or, they are rather tapping and clicking .The tremor you will hear is the volcano itself.Anyway, although it is not too intense, if you can appreciate the great power of nature.
This is how volcanic thunder is produced large amount of static energy, which is what forms the lightning. The variety in the intensity of the lightning is what will tell the scientists how large the ash concentration is and therefore what is the magnitude of the eruption of that volcano and how dangerous it could be.This discovery is very important since it will give us the ability, from the measurement of thunder and volcanic lightning, to measure more accurately l The intensity and consequences of a volcanic eruption.One more tool for scientists to the detection and possible reduction of consequences in natural disasters.
Knowing how to detect a possible volcanic lightning could make many scientists feel attracted to the idea of searching, in the many thunder maps that exist, his own volcanic thunder.Matthew Haney is convinced of this and affirms, in the press release about the discovery, that:
«I hope that in the future, other researchers will be excited and motivated to search in their data sets to see if they can capture the thunder signal.”
What do you think about the true sound of a volcanic lightning? Do you find it interesting? If you are passionate about nature, both the wonderful things that it offers us and the impressive phenomena such as the one we have just told you, surely you will find in Science Daily Online material to satisfy that curiosity.We invite you, for example, to throw it away A look at Mother Nature: How do hurricanes form? and give us your opinion about these topics We will be happy to read you!
Comments
Post a Comment