What are Cloudbursts?

At least eight people have died after a cloudburst occurred at the Amarnath Cave Shrine near Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

What is a Cloudburst?

• Cloudbursts are short-duration, intense rainfall events over a small area.
• According to the IMD, it is a weather phenomenon with unexpected precipitation exceeding 100mm/h over a geographical region of approximately 20-30 square km.

What causes Cloudburst?

• A study published last year studied the meteorological factors behind the cloudburst over the Kedarnath region.
• They analysed atmospheric pressure, temperature, rainfall, cloud water content, cloud fraction, cloud particle radius, cloud mixing ratio, total cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, and relative humidity during the cloudburst, before as well as after the cloudburst.
• The results showed that during the cloudburst, the relative humidity and cloud cover was at the maximum level with low temperature and slow winds.
• It is expected that because of this situation a high amount of clouds may get condensed at a very rapid rate and result in a cloudburst.

Impact of climate change

• Several studies have shown that climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts in many cities across the globe.
• As temperatures increase the atmosphere can hold more and more moisture and this moisture comes down as a short very intense rainfall for a short duration.
• This results in flash floods in the mountainous areas and urban floods in the cities.
• Also, there is evidence suggesting that globally short-duration rainfall extremes are going to become more intense and frequent.

Try this PYQ

Q.During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the:

1. meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky
2. lightning that separates the nimbus clouds
3. violent upward movement of air and water particles

Select the correct option using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) None of the above

 

Post your answers here.

8

Please leave a feedback on thisx

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)