- #36
Evo
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
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firefly, thanks for all of the translations!
According to the article from the Guardian, they ruled out the railway. "At first suspicion centred on the railway line, but that has now been discounted."Originally posted by zoobyshoe
From an Australian version:
This may be the common phenomenon Ivan was looking for:
"Suspicion has fallen on the railway, which runs past the houses at the foot of a cliff.
"What we know is that the fires start just before a train is due to pass," Pezzino said.'"
He says: "We know the fires start just before a train is due to pass."Originally posted by Evo
According to the article from the Guardian, they ruled out the railway. "At first suspicion centred on the railway line, but that has now been discounted."
Ah, I understand. I had read that the people were wanting financial compensation. It is very uncommon for people there to have insurance. So it makes sense that if they could pin it on the railroad, it would be someone they could go after. Except in Sicily, it would be in litigation so long, they would never live to see any money.Originally posted by zoobyshoe
He says: "We know the fires start just before a train is due to pass."
So what I mean is that this connection people made between the fires and the impending passing of the train, fits the description of the commonality Ivan was proposing people would notice.
An approaching train vibrates the tracks. It also sends sound through the tracks at the speed of sound in steel, whatever that is. The train itself makes sound that preceeds it as a rising pitch due to doppler.Originally posted by mouseonmoon and here's another bit of info-'when the train comes in' Is this the 'spark'?
[translated, with considerations above]
Science remains speechless [...]
Il fenomeno degli incendi [...] Since the overheating cables are not connected to the electrical supply the only phenomenon which produces current for induction is the exposure to strong electromagnetic fields.
What is induction
[translation omitted (superfluous for you guys, no?)]
Geomagnetism
[ditto]
Magnetism and Volcanic Activity
The phenomenon at Caronia could thus be related to the presence of subterranean magmatic masses pushing outwards. The presence of molten [? molten / alloyed / fused ?] substances at high temperatures causes - a scientifically proven thing - magnetic field variations and an increase in charge density on metallic objects. These variations, while in the order of nanoTeslas, are detectable by modern magnetic sensors which are able to perform rapid measurements, both of field intensity and direction. Once factored out the external effects, anthropic as well as natural oscillations of the Earth's magnetic field, a strong correlation has been shown between the "residual anomalies" and the proximity of eruptive crises on almost all monitored volcanos. Although the nature of the the mechanism which excites [? amplifies ?] the magnetic signal is still unclear, the phenomenologies currently invoked are: the demagnetization of parts of the volcanic structure, due to Curie's isothermal rise [? correct term ?]; the electrokinetic effect due to the rise of magmas, which would modify the paths of fluid circulation on the surface [i believe they intend "above ground"] parts of the vulcano and the piezomagnetic effect due to the change in the stress field of parts of the volcanic structure [uhhh, Zoob... sure you don't want to come to Italy and help these guys out? ], caused by pressure variations which accompany the rise of magmas.
Originally posted by firefly
Hey there guys, well looks like they're barking up a slightly different tree now... here's an article from a national (state) news network (RAI). This time I found some ambiguities and terms which my limited physics knowledge really could not tackle/B]
Originally posted by firefly
These variations, while in the order of nanoTeslas, are detectable by modern magnetic sensors which are able to perform rapid measurements, both of field intensity and direction. Once factored out the external effects, anthropic as well as natural oscillations of the Earth's magnetic field, a strong correlation has been shown between the "residual anomalies" and the proximity of eruptive crises on almost all monitored volcanos.
It also says, a bit further downOriginally posted by Ivan Seeking
In other words, the effects are negligible.
i.e. they don't expect a signal that small to directly cause the problems but somehow to be amplified or in any event modified in some way, by as yet undetermined influences.Although the nature of the the mechanism which excites [? amplifies ?] the magnetic signal is still unclear
I kinda doubt religion has much to do with it. Catholicism is a rather more of a backdrop. Kinda doubt too many people, small town or not, would ascribe it to the devil. At best a very elderly person might get the notion, whereupon I could see others jumping at the idea to call in exorcists and get some attention. Even if the italian public thought it ludicrous, it turns a fire into a unique mystery, and builds up a sense of importance. And it might bring a tourist or two... or more. This, after all, made world news. Think money.Originally posted by zoobyshoe In a small town with a strong religious base, there is the "Salem" factor to consider.
Let's say there is actually only one mysterious fire to start with that someone ascribes to the devil.
nahhhhh... it isn't a one guy against the next sort of thing.Other people may become unconsciously envious
No way people would burn down a houses down through ineptness. But if the property is dilapidated enough to require maintenance beyond it's value, and they caught "whiff" the whole thing could balloon into a national emergency, they might well jump at the chance to get a free ride on state funds to be rehoused. Think money.of the attention this brings them and start setting their own appliances on fire to get in on the attention. At least twelve of the towns residents are so inept at this they end up burning their own houses down. The more careful ones just wreck their cell phones and toasters
Originally posted by firefly
It also says, a bit further downi.e. they don't expect a signal that small to directly cause the problems but somehow to be amplified or in any event modified in some way, by as yet undetermined influences.
If I am not making any more sense than the article, please tell me to shut up and i'll quietly go away...