Context:
‘Bomb cyclone’ leaves trail of devastation as high winds, heavy rain lash northwest US
Bomb Cyclone:
- Also known as bombogenesis
- A rapidly intensifying storm where the atmospheric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours.
- Formation –
- Occurs when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.
- This collision typically happens over ocean waters between the tropics and polar regions.
- The rapid drop in pressure leads to intense weather conditions, including heavy rain or snow and strong winds.
Differences Between Hurricane and Bomb Cyclone:
| Hurricane | Bomb Cyclones | |
| Location | Form over warm tropical waters and require sea surface temperatures of at least 26.5°C (80°F). | Form over both land and sea, typically in mid-latitude regions where cold and warm air masses meet. |
| Pressure Drop | Gradual pressure drop over several days. | Rapid pressure drop of at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. |
| Seasonality | Primarily occur during the hurricane season (June to November in the Atlantic). | Can occur at any time of the year, often during the colder months |
Differences Between Bomb Cyclones and Atmospheric Rivers:
| Bomb Cyclones | Atmospheric Rivers | |
| Definition | Rapidly intensifying storms with a significant drop in atmospheric pressure | Narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere, often referred to as “rivers in the sky” |
| Formation | Form due to the collision of cold and warm air masses | Form when moist air from the tropics is transported to higher latitudes |
| Impact | Can cause severe weather, including heavy rain or snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding | Primarily cause heavy rainfall and flooding, especially in coastal and mountainous regions |
Read more about Tropical Cyclones, Typhoon, Atmospheric River
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
The 2004 Tsunami made people realise that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2011 Prelims]
(a) The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out.
(b) The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster.
(c) The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or Tsunami.
(d) The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots
Answer: (d)