Natures Air Engine

[Captain Jerry]

Here are a few pictures of natures air Engine that we took from our boat in the Bahamas this year. The closest it came was about 1 mile. We were at anchor and there was o place to run. All we could do was shoot pictures. In the excitement we forgot about taking videos! The time frame from the closest until it fades into the distance is about 8 minutes.

We usually see 4 or 5 of these events in a season. Most are at a distance of more than 5 miles and usually last only a minute or so. Many never reach all the way to the surface. This one came all the way down to the water surface and picked water up halfway to the cloud ceiling which was about 300 feet.

 

[rake60]

Beautiful pictures Jerry!
Dangerous as they are I love seeing the storms at a distance.
Last Sunday evening we were under a tornado warning here for
almost 3 hours. We had a super cell moving through with confirmed
rotation, but it never did produce a tornado. We didn't even get any
hail from it. 20 miles north-east of us received a pelting of nickle size
hail and had reports of several funnel clouds, but no touch downs.

I think they are kind of cool.
My wife is scared to death of them.

Rick

 

[Maryak]

Great Pictures CJ,

I am very happy you had a good experience and it came no closer.

Best Regards
Bob

 

[Captain Jerry]

You are right, Rick, these things are beautiful (from a distance).

From an engineering point of view, I think they are a type of Stirling Cycle engine, depending on small differences in temperature and pressure. If they could only be put to good use!!!

Jerry

 

[Bernd]

Aren't they called "water spouts" since they are over the water? At least that's what they are called by the meteoroligist here in Rochester, New York when they are out over Lake Ontario.

Bernd

 

[Captain Jerry]

Right Bernd, waterspouts is what they are. Among cruisers in the Bahamas, they are often called "Dangleys" over the VHF radio. Somebody is always watching the sky so if you hear over the radio, "We got a dangley in the northwest", you know that a thunderstorm cloud is beginning to show signs of dropping a waterspout.

If you happen to be facing that direction, you might give it a look. If you hear this followed by a quavering "Wow", you stop whatever you are doing and check it out.

Jerry

 

[rake60]

Seem I missed one yesterday.
This was in the local newspaper today:

TUESDAY’S TWISTY WEATHER
Written by Staff reports
Wednesday, 12 August 2009

This photo, taken around 4 p.m. Tuesday from the DeHaven
residence near Rossiter in Canoe Township, depict a funnel cloud
that formulated around the area as a result of some scary weather
Tuesday. Though various individuals reported seeing the cloud,
no damage was reported as a result of the afternoon’s bad weather.

That was about 7 miles from my home.

Rick