Final answer:
The problem with the original Fujita scale that was not actually a problem is option (a) Scale ranking was always based on damage only. The other options listed in the question were all problems with the original Fujita scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem with the original Fujita scale that was not actually a problem is option (a) Scale ranking was always based on damage only. This was a deliberate choice made by Dr. Fujita, the creator of the scale. He believed that assessing the damage caused by a tornado was the most accurate way to estimate its intensity. The other options listed in the question were all problems with the original Fujita scale.
Option (b) Rankings overestimated the wind speeds in more violent tornadoes was a problem because the scale relied on observing the damage caused by a tornado, and sometimes the damage was not a good indicator of the actual wind speed. The scale was later updated to address this issue.
Option (c) The original damage assessment guidelines were not detailed and specific. This was a problem because it made it difficult to consistently assign a rating to a tornado based on the damage it caused. Again, the scale was revised to provide more detailed guidelines for assessing damage.
Option (d) Damage assessment did not take into account structural integrity of buildings. This was a problem because different types of buildings can withstand different wind speeds. The original scale did not consider this factor, but it was incorporated in the Enhanced Fujita scale, which replaced the original scale in 2007. The Enhanced Fujita scale takes into account the types of buildings affected by a tornado when determining its intensity.