Satellite Images Reveal Hidden Tornado Scar in Remote Australian Outback
A previously undocumented 2022 tornado left a massive 11-kilometer scar in the Nullarbor Plain, offering new insights into extreme weather in remote regions.
- The tornado, classified as an F2 or F3 on the Fujita scale, occurred between November 16 and 18, 2022, with winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour).
- The scar, discovered via Google Earth, spans 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) in length and up to 250 meters (820 feet) in width, marked by distinctive cycloidal patterns caused by suction vortexes.
- The event was uncovered by a caver searching for karst features, prompting researchers to analyze weather data and visit the site in May 2024 to study the phenomenon.
- This tornado is one of only a few ever documented in the Nullarbor Plain, a remote and sparsely populated area, highlighting the challenges of tracking extreme weather in isolated regions.
- Researchers emphasize the importance of satellite imagery and advanced technologies like machine learning to monitor and study tornadoes in remote areas, improving prediction and preparedness efforts.
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