Crown fire initiation of a thunderstorm
Nicholas F. McCarthy
A B * , Hamish McGowan A , Adrien Guyot C , Andrew Dowdy D , Andrew Sturgess E and Ben Twomey E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Atmospheric Observations Research Group, School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia.
B Research and Development team, Fire Risk, Research and Community Preparedness Department, Country Fire Authority, Burwood, Vic., Australia.
C School of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
D Science and Innovation Group, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Docklands, Vic., Australia.
E Predictive Services Unit, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Kedron, Qld, Australia.
* Correspondence to: nick.mccarthy@cfa.vic.gov.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 32(4) 545-560 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21146
Submitted: 24 October 2021 Accepted: 29 December 2022 Published: 7 February 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF.
Abstract
Understanding bushfire–atmosphere interactions is essential for accurate prediction of fire behaviour, and for the safe and effective strategic management of fires to mitigate risk to people and property. Bushfires with feedbacks to thunderstorms represent the most extreme form of fire–atmosphere interaction, with potential to initiate tornadoes, lightning and hazardous winds causing dangerous fire behaviour and new ignitions many kilometres from the fire front. However, there is very little evidence that links quantitative fire behaviour with observed thunderstorm dynamics. Here we combine stochastic modelling of fire behaviour with satellite and mobile weather radar data of a bushfire thunderstorm in Queensland, Australia. The results show the coupling between fire behaviour and thunderstorm development in a conditionally unstable atmosphere. The process by which the coupling occurs raises questions as to the cause and effect relationship of the bushfire-initiated thunderstorms and associated fire behaviour. Recommendations for future research are made, highlighting the need for understanding links between modelled and observed fire behaviour dynamics and atmospheric thermodynamics.
Keywords: bushfire, fire behaviour, fire modelling, fire weather, geostationary satellite, pyrocumulonimbus, radar, thunderstorm.
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