Blizzard of 2017: What does bombogenesis mean?
There are lots of terms meteorologists use to describe storm systems, some of them more colorful than others. Perhaps the most-used and exotic-sounding one that is floating around in reference to the blizzard just beginning to bear down on the East Coast is "bombogenesis."
While it sounds like a band name or a game console, it's really just a fancy way of saying that an area of low pressure is rapidly intensifying. Specifically, to qualify as a "weather bomb," the minimum central pressure of the storm must drop by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours.
SEE ALSO:We're doomed (for a day): Paralyzing blizzard set to slam Philly, New York and BostonSome storms meet or exceed this threshold, as the blizzard is in the process of doing. A low pressure area with a minimum pressure of about 1,000 millibars around 11 p.m. is anticipated to intensify to sub-980 millibars by the same time Tuesday night.
Bombogenesis is a fairly rare occurrence, happening in a particular region in the northern midlatitude, such as the Northeast, a few times a season. Such intense, large-scale storms are more common in the U.S. during fall, winter and spring.
Storms that bomb out like this are typically accompanied by strong winds, since air rushes from higher to lower pressure, as well as heavy precipitation.
Storms that go through this process are fueled by intense air and moisture contrasts, such as the presence of a polar air mass across the northeastern U.S., and a warm and moist air mass sitting over the Gulf Stream waters.
Aided by jet stream winds and areas of atmospheric spin, these storms can generate a lot of lift, which is a trigger for heavy rain and snow.
East Coast blizzards tend to be weather bombs, as are some of the more intense North Atlantic and North Pacific winter storms. Such a storm recently caused damage in Newfoundland, where winds exceeded 100 miles per hour. That storm saw a staggering 42 millibar pressure drop in 24 hours, which helps explain the strong winds.
And in the UK, winter storm Doris rapidly intensified, too, causing damage as well.
Because bombogenesis often occurs over the oceans, the National Weather Service's Ocean Prediction Center maintains one of the best catalogs of weather bomb animations. They reveal how these storms are shape shifters, going from relatively innocuous-looking spins to full-fledged, backwards shaped commas.
time series of HF low that battered Newfoundland; seas up to 46ft this morn over the Labrador Sea! images 24hr apart (March 10/11/12 at 15Z) pic.twitter.com/jiJ41sSEGt
— NWS OPC (@NWSOPC) March 12, 2017
satellite loop (SEVIRI RGB Airmass) highlighting intense storm force low lashing Ireland, the UK, and now pushing into the North Sea pic.twitter.com/BjZVOubp0K
— NWS OPC (@NWSOPC) February 23, 2017
Here's what such storms look like in the Pacific, via a satellite loop.
So remember, the next time you hear the word "bombogenesis," or a storm referred to as a weather 'bomb': It means you should take that storm seriously.
Featured Video For You
An intense cold snap turned this waterfront home into a striking ice castle
TopicsBlizzard Entertainment
-
The Measurers巅峰竞技!江门在粤港澳大湾区人力资源服务技能大赛获三等奖Royal wedding takes turn for the NSFW with BBC subtitle error“青薯9号”在我市引种示范成功Kamala Harris’ ridiculous problem with the political press.WFP chief meets S. Korean ministers to discuss N. Korea food situationNew Tesla software hints that Elon Musk may be working on a music[Newsmaker] Prosecutors, police at odds over possible 1980s wrongful murder convictionElon Musk's AI facility is reportedly operating gas turbines without a permitApple might have finally scheduled the day it will unveil the iPhone 8
下一篇:Ford can make your Mustang Mach
- ·12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials
- ·Hillary Clinton's Role Models ad is extremely effective.
- ·Democratic Party of Korea turns deaf ear to North Korean human rights law
- ·[Newsmaker] Over 3,000 S. Koreans seeking reunions with separated relatives in NK died this year
- ·Tesla's big software update includes something called 'Night Curfew'
- ·The Best Skyrim Mods
- ·South Korea's new envoy for North Korean rights vows efforts for 'human security'
- ·NK media outlets mention Abe's death for 1st time
- ·科创筑梦树立远大志向 蓄势赋能培养科技人才
- ·Facebook removes hundreds of pages and accounts that spread fake news
- ·Sejong University ranks 10th among Korean universities in survey
- ·Pompeo says US hopes N. Korea chooses path of peace
- ·雅安市第四人民医院:工娱治疗让患者康复之路充满希望
- ·South Korea closely watching North Korea's summer military drills
- ·Moon asks lawmakers to hold confirmation hearing on prime minister nominee
- ·Moon, Xi stress importance of maintaining Pyongyang
- ·Weather update for second Pak vs Ban second Test match day one
- ·Tinder's new gender options have led to matches for 250,000 trans people
- ·Murder accusations against North Korean fishermen questioned
- ·Pompeo says US hopes N. Korea chooses path of peace
- ·10 Big Misconceptions About Computer Hardware
- ·South Korea closely watching North Korea's summer military drills
- ·Can Mike Pence, Trump's apparent VP pick, keep up?
- ·The Best Skyrim Mods
- ·Best Labor Day headphones deals: Apple, Bose, Beats, and more on sale
- ·1至8月 我市外贸进出口跌幅收窄
- ·What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- ·实体书店转型 应对“互联网+”时代
- ·Ting Shen, the Dallas Morning News intern, who took the defining photograph of the Dallas shooting.
- ·Blinken reaffirms US commitment to NPT, citing threats posed by North Korea, Iran
- ·Blinken condemns Russia
- ·NK leader discusses reorganization of Workers' Party departments in meeting: state media
- ·图集|鱼!鱼!鱼!水产种博暨海洋牧场产业大会开展!
- ·Pompeo says US hopes N. Korea chooses path of peace
- ·9 Festive Holiday Treats and Where to Find Them
- ·Big donors are keeping a low profile at the convention.