Mystery Unraveled: Researchers Reveal Origin of Perplexing Mark in Australian Wilderness
In early 2023, an Australian researcher discovering an unusual scar on the Nullarbor Plain, a desolate stretch of land in the nation's outback, set a team of scientists, including the author, on a new investigation. The mysterious mark, revealed through satellite imagery, was later identified as the remnant of an unrecorded tornado.
The revelation, detailed in recent research, offers valuable insights into the occurrence and potential impact of these weather events in Australia's extensive yet little-explored territory. Tornadoes, known for their destructive qualities worldwide, are not just a United States phenomenon. Australia also experiences these spontaneous, rotating columns of air, dropping from thunderstorms, with wind speeds often surpassing 200 kilometers per hour.
The discovery of the Nullarbor Plain's tornado scar, while interesting, is not entirely surprising, as tornadoes can occur in remote and less populated areas. But without advanced technologies, these events might largely go unnoticed. Understanding the aftermath of such events is crucial for better predictions and preparedness for future occurrences.
The scar is located in the remote and arid region, initially observed by a caver searching for caves or other karst features using Google Earth satellite imagery. The scar, stretching across the border from Western Australia to South Australia, is 11 kilometers long and between 160 and 250 meters wide, exhibiting cycloidal marks indicative of a severe tornado. Cycloidal marks are patterns generated by tornado suction vortexes, suggesting a high-powered F2 or F3 tornado with destructive winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour.
By examining satellite imagery over several years, scientists determined that the tornado occurred between November 16 and 18, 2022. The scar's vicinity bore blue circular patterns associated with heavy rain and water pooling. The team later visited the site in May 2023 to conduct further examination and document the surrounding landscape.
Findings from the study have been published in the CSIRO's Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science. Although the Nullarbor Plain is not prone to tornadoes, the region may exhibit conditions conducive to them under specific circumstances. The discovery not only offers insights into these meteorological events but highlights the importance of satellite imagery in identifying and analyzing weather phenomena, especially in remote and under-studied areas.
Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University
The article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Originally published by Cosmos as "A mysterious scar on the Nullarbor Plain: unveiling the secrets of a remote tornado"
Tornadoes, a common weather phenomenon worldwide, are not limited to populated areas like the United States; Australia also experiences these powerful weather events, as evidenced by the recent discovery of a tornado scar on the Nullarbor Plain. This incident highlights the significance of using advanced technologies, such as satellite imagery, in identifying and understanding these events, particularly in remote and understudied regions, contributing to environmental science and climate change studies.
