What is a “fire cloud”?
Simply put, pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) are massive thunderclouds caused by the fires themselves.
Read more Instead of meditation – mindful masturbation: sexologist named unexpected benefits
Powerful forest fires release a huge amount of energy and heat. This hot column of smoke rapidly rises upward.
Upon reaching a certain height, due to low atmospheric pressure, the top cools, the moisture in it condenses and turns into a cloud capable of generating lightning and strong winds.
The US space agency NASA vividly calls this phenomenon a “fire-breathing cloud dragon.”
Such structures can reach heights of 10–15 kilometers and penetrate into the stratosphere.
According to scientists, this is thunderstorm formation occurring within the fire’s smoke column itself.
They state that these phenomena encompass a huge volume of atmosphere – about 10,000 cubic kilometers – and have a huge impact on it.
- A forest fire generates intense heat
- The hot smoke column rapidly rises, air cools high in the atmosphere and moisture condenses
- A pyrocumulonimbus cloud (pyroCb) forms, strong winds rise and lightning forms
- The fire spreads even faster and more unpredictably
Why are these clouds so dangerous?
Formed pyroCb clouds cause strong gusts of wind that further fan the fire below. Additionally, lightning generated by the cloud can ignite new fire spots in completely different locations, far from the original fire.
Read more Seeing what kind of shoes Gitanas Nausėda chose while visiting Nida – quite surprised
Experts emphasize that strong and unpredictable winds make fire behavior chaotic. This poses a direct danger to firefighters’ lives on the ground.
At the beginning of this century, Australia began regularly encountering pyroCb phenomena.
Experts note that they are now recorded more frequently. In 2022, they were recorded in California as well, but for Europe – especially France – this could become a new, yet unexperienced reality.
The global climate crisis creates ideal conditions not only for the spread of fires themselves but also for the formation of these dangerous clouds.
Scientists warn that this is not just rising temperatures – it is complex climate change.
The atmosphere is changing, physical conditions at the earth’s surface and many other factors.
Scientific climate models show that in the future the intensity of these phenomena will only increase.
Read more Dirksčius sharply criticized Maslobojevas and gave a fight forecast: “He will like it”
