Were cloud dispersion simulations conducted to check whether the size of the cloud corresponded to the soot fallout from the flash fire? Is the footprint of soot fallout from the flash fire reliable as locating the boundary of the pre-explosion cloud?
Answer The simulations that were conducted indicated a cloud dispersion consistent with the soot fallout to the south and west – but that the actual soot boundary extended further north than could be explained solely by emissions from the 28″ nozzles. Because soot fallout from a flash fire is very fine and easily identified, it provides – except where subsequent fires consume the soot – a very good indication of the extent of a pre-explosion cloud (q.v. Fig 4).
