Scientists from Curtin University have discovered an unusual footprint in the arid region of the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia. It turned out that this “scar”, stretching for 11 kilometers, was the result of a powerful hurricane. The study was published in the journal Southern Hemisphere Journal of Earth Systems Science (JSHES).
The trace was found thanks to Google Earth satellite images examined by a cave explorer looking for geological formations. Scientists became interested in the finding and conducted additional research to determine the nature of the phenomenon.
The study results showed that the pathway was formed between November 16 and 18, 2022, when the region received heavy rainfall.
The scar is 160 to 250 feet wide and shows what are called cycloidal scars created by a hurricane’s suction eddies. Scientists determined that the tornado was likely an F2 or F3 on the Fujita scale, with winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour. It moved from west to east and lasted seven to thirteen minutes. The strength of the hurricane was enough to erode the soil, destroy vegetation and leave clear scars that can still be seen 18 months later.
Tornadoes in the Nullarbor Plain are rare and little studied, largely due to the remoteness of the region and the lack of notable destruction. The discovery was the fourth tornado recorded in the region, with all such events occurring in November.
Scientists state that satellite technology plays an important role in identifying and analyzing this phenomenon.
The discovery will help understand the conditions under which hurricanes occur in sparsely populated areas and how best to prepare for them.
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Source: Gazeta
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