American Vesuvius

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

My search-fu may be weak this morning, but I didn't see any other threads on this. Caught American Vesuvius on The History Channel last night. Was rather interesting in the comparison between the Twin Towers and Mt. Vesuvius.

Some of the side data was of greater interest to me. For example, when Dr. Pellegrino mentions that during the Towers' collapse the downward force was approx. 12,000 psi.

Anyone else catch the airing?

[DavidJames]

My search-fu may be weak this morning, but I didn't see any other threads on this. Caught American Vesuvius on The History Channel last night. Was rather interesting in the comparison between the Twin Towers and Mt. Vesuvius.

Some of the side data was of greater interest to me. For example, when Dr. Pellegrino mentions that during the Towers' collapse the downward force was approx. 12,000 psi.

Anyone else catch the airing?Oh No....Does this mean we're going to hear from TS *pyroclastic flow* 1234 again?

[CurtC]

The downward force was 12000 psi? What does that mean?

And what were the comparisons between the towers and Vesuvius? I don't get the History Channel.

[Darth Rotor]

The downward force was 12000 psi? What does that mean?

And what were the comparisons between the towers and Vesuvius? I don't get the History Channel.
It means the OP does not appear to know, or simply neglected, the difference between force (mass x acceleration) and pressure, which is force distributed over a given area ((mass x acceleration)/area).

DR

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Oh No....Does this mean we're going to hear from TS *pyroclastic flow* 1234 again?

Probably.

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

The downward force was 12000 psi? What does that mean?
iirc, Dr. Pellegrino was describing the forces exerted upon objects in the collapse column. I think he said 12,000 ft/lbs, but I may be misremembering.

And what were the comparisons between the towers and Vesuvius? I don't get the History Channel.
He focused on the idea of a collapse column (the towers in NY, and the suspended debris column w/ Vesuvius), how it comes down, the effects on the surrounding area and how some things get obliterated while others survive unscathed. The "benefit" of the WTC collapses was it was the first time a collapse column was directly observed and it also did not contain the usual superheated, poisonous gases that you get with a volcanic eruption.

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

It means the OP does not appear to know, or simply neglected, the difference between force (mass x acceleration) and pressure, which is force distributed over a given area ((mass x acceleration)/area).

DR

Or maybe I'm trying to quote the show and misremembering. :p

[CptColumbo]

Saw it. Thought the accusation that NYFD was stealing blue jeans was hillarious (the logistics of doing it were near impossible) and sad (the ladder company being accused had all died).

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Saw it. Thought the accusation that NYFD was stealing blue jeans was hillarious (the logistics of doing it were near impossible) and sad (the ladder company being accused had all died).

Indeed, I was glad he was able to clear them in full.

[CurtC]

The "benefit" of the WTC collapses was it was the first time a collapse column was directly observed and it also did not contain the usual superheated, poisonous gases that you get with a volcanic eruption.So if TS1234 is lurking, note that he was saying that there was no pyroclastic flow!

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

So if TS1234 is lurking, note that he was saying that there was no pyroclastic flow!
Correct. He stated the similarities were the "collapse column", the "surge cloud", and the "shock coccoons"; the key difference was the surge cloud was not pyroclastic in the case of the WTC.

[Bell]

Saw it. Thought the accusation that NYFD was stealing blue jeans was hillarious (the logistics of doing it were near impossible) and sad (the ladder company being accused had all died).

I don't want to nitpick, but it is the FDNY ;)

[carlvs]

American Vesuvius is an interesting show (I have it on my HD recorder and plan to transfer it to DVD in the near future,) but you actually need to read the book it was based on, Ghosts of Vesuvius (http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Vesuvius-Pompeii-Strange-Connections/dp/0060751002/sr=1-7/qid=1165330014/ref=sr_1_7/103-6294236-5331031?ie=UTF8&s=books) - especially the final chapter, Ghosts of New York - to truly understand the concepts mentioned during the program. Dr. Pellegrino includes the field maps he drew during his time there (which among other details shows the locations of some of the vehicles that a certain person claims were destroyed by a "death ray,) survivor accounts of the surge cloud, as well as how he was able to clear the name of the NYFD Ladder Company that was accused of looting at the WTC.

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

American Vesuvius is an interesting show (I have it on my HD recorder and plan to transfer it to DVD in the near future,) but you actually need to read the book it was based on, Ghosts of Vesuvius (http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Vesuvius-Pompeii-Strange-Connections/dp/0060751002/sr=1-7/qid=1165330014/ref=sr_1_7/103-6294236-5331031?ie=UTF8&s=books) - especially the final chapter, Ghosts of New York - to truly understand the concepts mentioned during the program. Dr. Pellegrino includes the field maps he drew during his time there (which among other details shows the locations of some of the vehicles that a certain person claims were destroyed by a "death ray,) survivor accounts of the surge cloud, as well as how he was able to clear the name of the NYFD Ladder Company that was accused of looting at the WTC.

Hrm, there is a limited time exhibit on Pompeii that includes Ghosts of Vesuvius here at the Field Museum. I may well have to drag my butt down there and check it out.