Does a Circulating Photograph Show the Approach of Tropical Storm Isaac?
Outline
Widely circulated photograph that shows a large storm front rolling across the ocean claims that the pictures depicts 2012's tropical storm Isaac.
Brief Analysis
The photograph does not show tropical storm Isaac. In fact, the same picture has been circulated in a number of other contexts since at least 2008.
Detailed analysis and references below example.
Last updated: August 27, 2012
First published: August 27, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
Research by Steve Williamson, Brett Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer
Example
How crazy is this photo of Isaac?!?! Share and be safe...check back at [] for your updates
This compelling picture of a large storm rolling rather menacingly just above the ocean
is currently circulating rapidly around Facebook and other social networks. The message with the picture claims that it depicts tropical storm Isaac, which caused deaths and destruction in Haiti and later threatened areas of the United States in August 2012. The message asks people to share the picture and check back to a specified website for updates about Isaac.
However, while it does show a wall or shelf cloud associated with a large storm, the picture does not depict tropical storm Isaac at all.
In fact, the very same picture has circulated the Internet via blogs, email and social networking websites since at least 2008. Previous descriptions have claimed that the picture shows various other well-known storms and hurricanes. Some references suggest that the picture shows a
storm approaching oil rigs near Brunei.
Whatever its origin, the picture certainly has no connection whatsoever to Isaac. The message is apparently a rather lame attempt to amass "shares"
and to drive users to a specified website.
This is certainly not the first time that
storm photographs have been falsely attributed to unrelated hurricanes, cyclones or typhoons and is unlikely to be the last.
References
The Flying Kiwi - Highlights of Brunei
Storm Photographs
Last updated: August 27, 2012
First published: August 27, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
Research by Steve Williamson, Brett Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer
