Amazing 3D images of hailstones’ internal structure have been captured for the first time using a dental scanner. Scientists hope this breakthrough will aid in predicting storms that produce large, destructive hailstones.
After a severe storm hit Spain in 2022, researchers at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia obtained hailstones, some as large as 12 centimetres, which fell during the calamity. By scanning the hailstones, scientists could study the layers of ice within them, offering insights into how they form.
The scanned hailstones revealed surprising details, like off-centre nuclei, indicating their formation process. This information could enhance future hailstorm forecasts by correlating internal structure with radar data.
Opinions on the scans are positive, with Julian Brimelow noting the significance of studying such large hailstones. John Allen plans to conduct a similar study in the US Great Plains in 2025.
This innovative method of scanning hailstones opens up new possibilities for understanding their growth, potentially improving our ability to predict and prepare for hailstorms in the future.
Topics: Hailstones, Meteorology, Storm Forecasting
Vocabulary List:
- Hailstones /ˈheɪl.stoʊnz/ (noun): Balls or lumps of ice that fall from clouds during a storm.
- Structure /ˈstrʌk.tʃər/ (noun): The arrangement or organization of parts to form a whole.
- Calamity /kəˈlæm.ɪ.ti/ (noun): An event causing great damage or distress; a disaster.
- Formation /fɔːrˈmeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The action of forming or process of being formed.
- Correlating /ˈkɔːrə.leɪtɪŋ/ (verb): Showing a relationship or connection between two things.
- Innovative /ˈɪn.ə.veɪ.t̬ɪv/ (adjective): Introducing or using new ideas or methods.
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