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The News
The News
- Parts of California – mostly Northern California – saw as much as a foot of rain over the course of the storm in October. Sacramento saw the most rain ever recorded within a 24-hour period at 5.44 inches, and San Francisco received 4.02 inches within 24 hours, the most rainfall in a single day during October and the fourth wettest 24 hours on record for the city.
- Experts have suggested that the reasons for such intense rain is Atmospheric river storm and Bomb Cyclone..!!!
What is an Atmospheric river?
- An Atmospheric River is not a term you commonly hear.
- As the name suggests, it is a “river in the sky”. The river is made up of water vapor.
- Atmospheric rivers move inland and sweep over Mountains, causing the water vapor to rise. The water vapor then cools, creating heavy rain and/or snow. These atmospheric rivers can be 250-300 miles wide.
- It is also referred as tropical plume or moisture plume or high cloud band.
The Pineapple Express
Are Atmospheric Rivers always devastating?
- Not always..!!!
- Researchers have know about atmospheric rivers. They account for 30-50% of annual precipitation on the west coast of the United States.
- In fact, Weak atmospheric rivers can bring beneficial rain or snow, but the more powerful ones can cause extremely heavy rainfall and devastating floods.
- It is said that atmospheric rivers have caused an average of $1.1 billion in flood damages yearly in the western U.S.
- Atmospheric rivers cause devastating rain if combined with a Bomb Cyclone..!!!
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
The Normal Cyclone
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Bomb cyclone is a misnomer..!!
- Bombogenesis or Explosive cyclogenesis is the rapid deepening of an extratropical cyclonic low-pressure area. It basically refers to mid-latitude cyclones that intensify very very rapidly. It generally occurs as massive winter storms which hammer the coasts bringing strong winds, flooding, ice and snow.
- A hurricane or cyclone is classified as bomb cyclone depending on change in pressure & latitude.
- For example, at 60° latitude, explosive cyclogenesis occurs if the central pressure decreases by 24 mbar (hPa) or more in 24 hours.
What causes these Bomb Cyclones?
- The principle mechanism behind Explosive cyclogenesis has been subjected to debate amongst the scientific community. However, it has been observed that it occurs mainly due to
- Intense Baroclinic instability
- Tropospheric frontogenesis
- Large sea interaction
- Sudden and large latent heat release
Whatever… India ki baat karo..!!
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