Page 164 - Super Earth Encyclopedia

FUNNEL

OF FLAME

FIRE DEVIL

When wildfires in hot, dry parts of the world burn
out of control, the intense heat creates powerful
updrafts that suck in air from all around the fire
zone. The oxygen in the air makes the fire burn even
more fiercely, dragging in more air that starts spiraling
up in a whirling funnel of flame called a fire devil.
Like a miniature burning tornado, it can leave a trail
of destruction and scatter burning debris over a large
area, sparking new fires and more fire devils.

FIRESTORM

A really big wildfire can create
such a powerful updraft that the
smoke and water vapor build up
a giant, smoky storm cloud—a
pyrocumulonimbus. Such clouds
can start spinning, becoming
supercells that may develop into
tornadoes. Acting like supersized
fire devils, these firestorms destroy
everything in their path.

STATS AND FACTS

HEIGHT DEADLY FIRE DEVIL
Most fire devils are Fire devils are In 1923, a fire
EXTREME WEATHER fire devils that turn TEMPERATURE Temperatures inside a fire devil
small, local events
tornado in Tokyo,
usually 7–33 ft
that last for just a
Japan, killed
(2–10 m) high.
38,000 people
few minutes. Huge
in 15 minutes.
into catastrophic
firestorms and
tornadoes can only
be generated by
can exceed 1,830°F (1,000°C).
massive fires, and
500
1,000
°C
are extremely rare.
162 °F 1,000 2,000

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