Brian OConnell
EF1
At that point what does it matter if they exhale? A diver who rockets to the surface will exhale too, but the damage is already done
Can the pressure change or wind in tornadoes cause injury/death directly?
- Thread starter Brian OConnell
- Start date
- Status
At that point what does it matter if they exhale? A diver who rockets to the surface will exhale too, but the damage is already done
rdale
EF5
At any point - the force of holding your breath cannot exceed the force of the air pushing out of your lungs.
No death.
No death.
Brian OConnell
EF1
This is factually wrong, scuba divers can and do suffer potentially fatal rupture of the alvioli if they hold their breath during pressure changes that are less than the pressure change in the tulia tornado https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/lung-expansion-injuries/
rdale
EF5
You are referring to divers - we are discussing the tornado survivor.
They will live.
They will live.
Brian OConnell
EF1
What is the significance of this distinction? The pressure change is what is dangerous, and the tulia tornado had a greater pressure change than that known to be dangerous to divers
RZ Fortner
EF0
I honestly don’t know, I’m not a scientist. But I’m sure there is an explanation of why I’ve never heard of a pressure drop death from a tornado. Yet you do from scuba divers.
Brian OConnell
EF1
In the absence of any other explanation I would have to assume it is possible, but has never been reported by chance
This would only happen if the tornado was small and fast enough to cause the pressure to drop in a couple seconds, the center of the tornado passed directly over the victim, the victim had their windpipe closed at the moment of tornado passage, and the tornado had extreme low pressure, which may only occur in the most extreme EF5s (likely fatal regardless of pressure) and for a brief time during corner flow collapse of moderate tornadoes, these factors make the probability of someone encountering such a danger low, even in a tornado, but it is still a risk, perticularly for those who intentionally put themselves in tornadoes over and over (TIV, ect) it is also possible that this has happened at some point but the cause of death not recognized due to other traumatic injuries that were assumed to be the cause of death
rdale
EF5
It really isn't something to worry about. There's no evidence that it is a risk.
Brian OConnell
EF1
I'm not worried about it, the question was more about scientific curiosity than concern for my safety, I'm not planning on going inside any tornadoes
That said I do think the pressure change recorded in a tornado being greater than the pressure change that is dangerous to divers constitutes evidence that this is a risk in very specific uncommon scenerios
rdale
EF5
Oh okay - thanks for clarifying. So far there is no evidence or data to back up that claim, but I encourage you to experiment if you can do so safely!
Brian OConnell
EF1
The evidence is that large rapid pressure drops are known to be dangerous, and that a pressure drop recorded in a tornado was as rapid and larger than those known to be dangerous
Jeff Wright
EF4
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
- Messages
- 406
Benthic pressure gradients are greater than atmospheric variations on Earth, or in a space station in a hard vacuum. The folks on board the diving bell of the Byford Dolphin learned that Nov. 5, 1983, sadly. I had forgotten the sled test-higher wind than DOW record- but that was unidirectional. A super-narrow suction spot means flesh gets it from other angles of attack. Cows more vulnerable with greater surface area?
Thread closed
Thread has devolved into back-and-forth arguing, and the facts of the case have been presented. I see no reason for further arguing.
Thread has devolved into back-and-forth arguing, and the facts of the case have been presented. I see no reason for further arguing.
- Status
Similar threads
