Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro Catalonia, Spain, was the scene of an extraordinary scientific discovery: by analyzing giant hailstones with an innovative technique, researchers paved the way for more precise weather forecasts to deal with extreme atmospheric phenomena linked to climate change
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On April 14, 1986, a powerful hailstorm struck the district of Gopalganj in Bangladesh. It killed 92 people and was etched in the annals of meteorology. According to the World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive, hailstones weighing up to 2.25 pounds were recorded in this hailstorm. This record is unforgettable, though for all the wrong reasons.
Extreme weather phenomena are on the rise, and this is exacerbated by climate change. The now faster-changing climate contributes to the formation of giant hailstones, among other extreme events. It is against this background that a team of researchers has focused on a remarkable hailstorm that hit Catalonia in 2022. Their objective? To understand the mechanisms behind such storms and better predict future scenarios.
Science meets ingenuity
This time, science had an unexpected ally: the citizens. A few people in Catalonia realized that this was no normal storm and saved hailstones in their freezers, including a monster 4.72-inch-diameter hailstone. These specimens allowed researchers from the University of Barcelona to use a novel approach: computed tomography, or CT. Professor Xavier Úbeda explained:
“We were looking for a method that would allow us to analyze the internal stratifications without damaging the samples.”
The results were better than expected. The scans showed highly detailed internal structures of the hailstones, with highly irregular developments. Even the roundest hailstones concealed a core, or “embryo,” that was far from centrally located.
Professor Javier Martin-Vide, co-author of the study, explained:
“This technique allows us to understand the formation processes by analyzing the growth layers of hailstones.”
This non-invasive observation could prove crucial in improving forecasts and preventing tragedies associated with extreme weather events.
Dr. Carme Farnell Barqué from the Meteorological Service of Catalonia concluded:
“For the first time, we’ve been able to observe the entire internal structure of hailstones, gaining fundamental insights into the phenomenon.”
A call to action through science
These are images from the CT scans that show a window into how these spheres of ice could form under specific conditions. More importantly, they underscore how scientific research plays a vital role in addressing the now increasingly evident effects of climate change. But preparing for such extreme events-like giant hailstorms-requires not just advance technology but collective responsibility.
