• Power of Oklahoma tornado surpassed Hiroshima bomb
    27 replies, posted
[quote]Wind, humidity and rainfall combined precisely to create the massive killer tornado in Moore, Okla. And when they did, the awesome amount of energy released over that city dwarfed the power of the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima.On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service gave it the top-of-the-scale rating of EF-5 for wind speed and breadth and severity of damage. Wind speeds were estimated at between 200 and 210 mph.[/quote] [URL]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57585569/power-of-okla-tornado-surpassed-hiroshima-bomb/[/URL]
And the ironic part is that every time I look at photographs from the tornado, I can't help but think that it looks like a nuke went off.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;40737592]And the ironic part is that every time I look at photographs from the tornado, I can't help but think that it looks like a nuke went off.[/QUOTE] My first thought as well when pictures started rolling in. [IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/xaphg3.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2qbry1g.jpg[/IMG]
Well in any case it sure wasn't as destructive as the "8 to 600 times more powerful" estimates would imply, if it was it would've murdered probably literally everyone in the city...
And of all the things to compare it with they chose Hiroshima? Wow.
[QUOTE=uber.;40737616]And of all the things to compare it with they chose Hiroshima? Wow.[/QUOTE] what other nuclear bomb can everyone instantly understand the power output of because of history? only little boy, fat man and [I]maybe[/I] tsar (but it isnt comparable in energy)
[QUOTE=DOG-GY;40737634]what other nuclear bomb can everyone instantly understand the power output of because of history? only little boy, fat man and [I]maybe[/I] tsar (but it isnt comparable in energy)[/QUOTE] That's not what I meant. Comparing a tornado to an atomic bomb attack seems a bit ignorant.
Just wondering, how do they measure "power"?
[QUOTE=uber.;40737685]That's not what I meant. Comparing a tornado to an atomic bomb attack seems a bit ignorant.[/QUOTE] Why? It's a very simple and effective way to make people understand that there was incredible amounts of power in the tornado. Comparisons to nuclear explosions (historic ones) aren't very uncommon for other events where massive amounts of energy are involved. [editline]22nd May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=ScottyWired;40737707]Just wondering, how do measure "power"?[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(physics)[/url]
Then imagine Tsar bomba, which would've been something like 310 tornadoes of that size.
[QUOTE=LarparNar;40737710]Why? It's a very simple and effective way to make people understand that there was incredible amounts of power in the tornado. Comparisons to nuclear explosions (historic ones) aren't very uncommon for other events where massive amounts of energy are involved.[/QUOTE] Not denying that. But let me put it like this. On one side you have a natural disaster that devastated an area and so far took the lives of 30 (maybe up to 50? 100?). One the other hand you have an atomic bomb which as been dropped willingly on a capital city taking the lives of roughly 100k-150k, radiating a large area and causing long-term damage to the population considering cancer and all that fun stuff. And then you think it's fair to compare those two? I'm not trying to be overly political correct here, as you said it is a valid way to compare power but I would understand if this might offend someone.
[QUOTE=uber.;40737786]Not denying that. But let me put it like this. On one side you have a natural disaster that devastated an area and so far took the lives of 30 (maybe up to 50? 100?). One the other hand you have an atomic bomb which as been dropped willingly on a capital city taking the lives of roughly 100k-150k, radiating a large area and causing long-term damage to the population considering cancer and all that fun stuff. And then you think it's fair to compare those two? I'm not trying to be overly political correct here, as you said it is a valid way to compare power but I would understand if this might offend someone.[/QUOTE] Well they're really only attempting to compare the initial destruction caused by Hiroshima, as that's typically what people understand and presume is being talked about, especially when such is expressly implied in the comparison.
[QUOTE=uber.;40737616]And of all the things to compare it with they chose Hiroshima? Wow.[/QUOTE] Hiroshima and Nagasaki are essentially the base units of measurement for explosions and nature disasters of this nature. Plenty of news sources and researchers/scientists have made similar comparisons since the two bombs went off.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;40737815]Hiroshima and Nagasaki are essentially the base units of measurement for explosions and nature disasters of this nature. Plenty of news sources and researchers/scientists have made similar comparisons since the two bombs went off.[/QUOTE] Huh. Seems like I was wrong then. My bad. D:
I'm glad I live where I do even though the storms are always lame here. I'm far enough north in MN to not have Tornados often, I've only seen 2 or 3 little guys.
most of my friends are homeless now, and they're all crowding in oklahoma city. the national guard has moore on lockdown, nobody can go back to their homes if they were out of town at the time even if the homes are still standing. despite my house not being torn down, i was without power and clean water for about a day and a half, having to walk 3 miles to get clean water and a source of power was not fun.
[QUOTE=Lambadvanced;40737600]Well in any case it sure wasn't as destructive as the "8 to 600 times more powerful" estimates would imply, if it was it would've murdered probably literally everyone in the city...[/QUOTE] Hiroshima bomb released its destructive energy in an instant, which is why it had so many casualities
[QUOTE=uber.;40737786] I'm not trying to be overly political correct here, as you said it is a valid way to compare power but I would understand if this might offend someone.[/QUOTE] People will happily insult Nazi Germany but the Imperialistic and genocidal Japanese empire is off limits. I don't understand people sometimes. Those explosions are basically the base measurements of the times. The last time the atomic bomb was ever used on civilians is pretty iconic. I didn't think a Tornado could ever get this powerful or cause this much damage.
I'm sure the temperature was a bit lower than the Hiroshima bomb :pwn:
[QUOTE=booster;40737746]Then imagine Tsar bomba, which would've been something like 310 tornadoes of that size.[/QUOTE] The one that was actually blown up, or the original one that had its power reduced by half?
Jesus That's a lot of power
The energy of the tornado surpassed Hiroshima, but the power or Hiroshima was much greater. Remembering power is energy per second typically, Hiroshima lasted what a few minutes/seconds, but this tornado alot longer...
[QUOTE=jamzzster;40743209]The energy of the tornado surpassed Hiroshima, but the power or Hiroshima was much greater. Remembering power is energy per second typically, Hiroshima lasted what a few minutes/seconds, but this tornado alot longer...[/QUOTE] And a Nuke does a lot more damage in radiation poisoning.
My condolences to everyone who has lost his home, or a loved one.
[QUOTE=dass;40742998]The one that was actually blown up, or the original one that had its power reduced by half?[/QUOTE] usually people mean the one that actually went boom i would guess
I was on the phone with my girlfriend as the tornado was passing. She lives in Moore and she's very lucky that her house wasn't damaged. I'm glad she's alright, there's so much damage all over. When I was looking at pictures, I had noticed the Moore Medical Center. I had to stay there before I left back to New York a few months back (I had to get emergency surgery). It's so eerie to see this building now, it's almost completely destroyed. I'm surprised the Warren Theater is still standing!
[QUOTE=Liem;40743383]And a Nuke does a lot more damage in radiation poisoning.[/QUOTE] Eh, we're being physics nerds and thinking solely about their misuse of the term "power".
Unless the tornado was radioactive and on fire I'm not sure how many parralels you could draw between the two. But yeah, thoughts going out to everyone that's been hit by this thing.
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