Explained: Polar Vortex and Bomb Cyclone as well as other weather terms

Many of the recent buzzwords in weather forecasting — “polar vortex,” “bomb cyclone” — describe natural phenomena that are neither new, nor even more common than before, even as climate change, in general, has led to more extreme weather events. However, the terms are more widely used, sometimes accurately, and sometimes less accurately.

The Polar vortex

According to the National Weather Service polar vortex “A large area of ​​low pressure and cold air surrounds the Earth’s poles. It is always present close to the poles, but it becomes less strong in the summer and stronger in the winter. The term ‘vortex’ refers to the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep the cold air near the poles.” The polar vortex expands regularly during the Northern Hemisphere winter, transporting Arctic air into the United States.

Hurricane bomb

A bomb tornado is a rapid drop in pressure in a low-pressure air mass — “by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours,” John GiacomMcGill University meteorologist, who coined the term in 1980s. Wind picks up as the pressure gradient (or difference) between a low and a nearby high-pressure mass grows. This rapid condensation is known as the bomb.

Atmospheric river

atmospheric riversAccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA, “They are small regions in the atmospheric that transfer a large amount of moisture from northern latitudes to the tropics.” “Atmospheric river systems are part of Earth’s ocean water cycle and are closely connected to both water supply as well as flood risk.”

Dr. Giacome stated that although some atmospheric rivers can cause dangerous weather conditions, many others don’t. He added: “Many can move and meander all over the world and do very little.”

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is an example of a powerful atmospheric River. This is because moisture builds up around Hawaii in the tropical Pacific Ocean and can flood the western coasts with heavy rains and snow. According to NOAA.

(In 2008, Seth Rogen appeared in the comedy “Pineapple Express.” In which he witnessed a murder drug dealer fleeing a murderer, corrupt police officer, and has no noticeable effect of the weather, it was filmed by Seth Rogen.

ARkStorm

The “Massive Storm” scenario, which was originally predicted to happen once every 1,000 years, is now possible. According to the USGSIt has been occurring for a while, but it is now expected that it will become more frequent as a result climate change. The name is a combination of “AR”, which stands for atmospheric river, and “k”, which stands for 1000. According to the agency, one such storm was recorded in California in 1861-1862. “There is no reason for us to believe that similar events won’t occur again.”