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DFu4ever t1_j49x8sy wrote

Can any weather experts confirm that a cloud can explode in size as quickly as this pilot is describing? Typically you only see this with time lapse photography or sped up video.

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GregsKandy t1_j4a3vxw wrote

I’m not a meteorologist but I wonder if it has to do with the cap (or lid) boundary being ruptured? If ruptured is the correct term.

Cap - (also called "Lid") A layer of relatively warm air aloft, usually several thousand feet above the ground, which suppresses or delays the development of thunderstorms. Air parcels rising into this layer become cooler than the surrounding air, which inhibits their ability to rise further and produce thunderstorms. As such, the cap often prevents or delays thunderstorm development even in the presence of extreme instability. However, if the cap is removed or weakened, then explosive thunderstorm development can occur.

The cap is an important ingredient in most severe thunderstorm episodes, as it serves to separate warm, moist air below and cooler, drier air above. With the cap in place, air below it can continue to warm and/or moisten, thus increasing the amount of potential instability. Or, air above it can cool, which also increases potential instability. But without a cap, either process (warming/moistening at low levels or cooling aloft) results in a faster release of available instability - often before instability levels become large enough to support severe weather development.

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Kindly-Scar-3224 t1_j4afs0v wrote

You seem like a expert, if you convert the air into a liquid, would turbulence be like waves on the water?

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Broad_Success_4703 t1_j4ccvod wrote

So air is a gas. Gas has fluid like properties. The sun unequally heats the surface of the earth which causes weather. Temperature differences, mountains, thunderstorms, etc are all associated with severe turbulence.

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Midnight2012 t1_j4az41j wrote

Not an expert but turbulence can be caused by a variety of meteorological and even some non-meteorological phenomenon.

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PM_ur_Rump t1_j4a0lrn wrote

I've seen clouds grow in unreal looking ways in Florida, like billowing smoke forming a massive stratocumulus in pretty short order. But not in a couple seconds.

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for20_ t1_j4kmz6g wrote

We may be underestimating what can happen in seconds means when youre traveling at 450mph.

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bonyponyride t1_j4a2fza wrote

It kind of sounds like the pilot is exaggerating because he flew into a strong convective updraft and doesn't want the blame, but who knows? Maybe it could have been an underwater volcanic eruption, but that should be verifiable with seismic data.

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BetterMakeAnAccount t1_j4bc45d wrote

I’m not an expert but it’s possible one or more passengers made God mad, due to their avaricious hearts or mayhaps even gay thoughts

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fuck_the_fuckin_mods t1_j4nbl7i wrote

Occam’s razor says this is the most likely explanation. Homosexuality has been known to cause natural disasters.

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dak4f2 t1_j4ao6do wrote

I don't know but I do know there is crazy weather over the Pacific the last 3 weeks with seemingly infinite atmospheric rivers moving across the entire Pacific and raining down onto California.

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spaced_out_taco t1_j49y1uf wrote

Not a weather expert in any way, but wondering if it was volcanic activity.

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TheInternetCat t1_j49zzyv wrote

I’m also not a weather expert!

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TrixieH0bbitses t1_j4a2gl8 wrote

Holy shit, how many of us are there?? 🤯

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code_archeologist t1_j4a36b3 wrote

There are tens of us... Even tens of tens of us.

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Cip_anu t1_j4a4nxk wrote

This guy maths

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SkyPork t1_j4a05io wrote

Me too, that was my first thought. Plus, a pilot can probably tell a cloud from smoke. Seems like they should have some dash cam footage.

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NeutralBias t1_j4c2n7j wrote

It wasnt. Typically flights from the mainland approach the islands from the North/Northeast, no where near any active volcanoes.

In fact, there are no arrivals into HNL that fly anywhere near Mauna Loa or Kilauea.

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