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To: SunkenCiv

Reports of strange objects falling from the sky are numerous and varied. People have reported raining squid, worms and fish. Fish are actually the most common creatures to fall from the sky, for obvious reasons — they’re very lightweight, and they’re the most common water inhabitants [source: BBC]. But waterspouts can pick up heavier objects, too.

Waterspout winds can spin at amazing speeds — up to 200 mph [source: CMMAP]. These types of wind speeds can pick up a very wide range of cargo because they can suck up objects from up to 3 feet (1 meter) below the surface, and the low-pressure core they form is an extremely powerful vacuum compared with the speeding winds surrounding it. Large water birds have also fallen from the sky. At least one source reports a sailboat coming down with rain [source: CMMAP]. Presumably a waterspout can pick up a few things when it hits land, too, because it has also been known to rain tomatoes and coal [source: CMMAP].

http://science.howstuffworks.com/rain-frog.htm/printable

Methinks that what goes up - must come down.


19 posted on 03/02/2010 6:02:23 PM PST by Fred Nerks (fair dinkum!)
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To: Fred Nerks

:’) Thanks FN.


20 posted on 03/02/2010 6:17:46 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Freedom is Priceless.)
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