Wildfire-Driven Thunderstorms and Their Role in Climate

Explore the intriguing world of pyrocumulonimbus clouds and their impact on climate in this 53-minute press conference from AGU's Fall Meeting 2020. Delve into the most detailed information available on the Australian New Year 2020 wildfire-driven thunderstorm activity, comparing it with other large wildfire events worldwide. Learn how these clouds act as chimneys, funneling smoke from Earth's wildfires to high altitudes where it lingers for extended periods. Discover the potential dangers to aircraft, cooling effects, impacts on California weather, and the accumulative effect on radiative forcing. Gain insights from experts Dave Peterson, Mike Smith, Laura Thompson, and Rick Levitt as they discuss the characteristics of fires, the duration of smoke in the atmosphere, and the increasing frequency of these events.