top of page

Cosmic Thunderstorms

Akshay Aribindi, Grade 11

According to The Weather Channel, “A supercell is an elite type of thunderstorm accompanied by dangerous weather conditions including large hail, damaging winds, and sometimes, tornadoes.” These destructive weather events are known for their devastatingly gnarly tornadoes. However, how their twisters form isn’t completely understood. On the contrary, a new study suggests that scientists can glean hints from the cosmos.

Muons, or subatomic particles that are like heavier versions of electrons, could reveal the atmospheric pressure in a thunderstorm and the resulting tornado, researchers report. These particles are produced by cosmic rays, which are an assortment of high-energy particles from space, including protons. When cosmic rays careen through the atmosphere, they produce muons that rain down on Earth, including through tornadoes. Computer simulations of supercell thunderstorms suggest that a low-pressure region within a storm contributes to tornado formation.

Muons are sensitive to the density of air that they pass through, and lower air pressure (lower density) means that muon excess could be identified with a detector on the ground. Based on computer simulations of tornadoes and cosmic rays, researchers propose using a large detector spread across an area of 1000 square meters for particle detection. The large approach would mean waiting for a storm to pass close enough to observe. However, a smaller portable detector can be transported to the location of predicted severe weather. But physicist Hiroyuki Tanaka of the University of Tokyo says, “Supercells are much smaller than cyclones… For this reason, we need a much larger detection area.” He questions whether measurement would be successful in a realistic setting. He may not have to wait long though, as William Luscack and colleagues are planning to test the first concept in the summer.

In conclusion, large detectors would be necessary to detect these particles and discover the atmospheric pressure of a thunderstorm and tornadoes to predict their intensity and paths.

bottom of page