Introduction:

After recent cloudburst events in the world, you might be wondering what is a cloudburst? In this article find the complete details on what is cloudburst, definition of cloudburst and how cloudburst occurs.

Cloudburst, an event of intensified precipitation, defined as a 100 mm precipitation in an hour within an area of 30 sq.km.

Specifically, this process takes place in the hilly and mountainous regions influenced by the topography, wind patterns and temperature variations.

Times When Cloudburst Occured:

This is not just a modern- world concern rather it is a natural meteorological phenomenon occurring over time. For example;

• In 1911, a cloudburst in Arizona, USA.
• In 1908, cloudburst in Mussoorie, India.

In the contemporary world we hear more about this issue predominantly due to population explosion and climate change.

How Cloudburst Happens?

It occurs when the warm air intermixes with the cooler air parcels, resulting in condensation. This process is referred to as Orographic Lift.

Mechanism Of Clouburst Involves:

• The encounter of moist and warm air with a mountain or hill leads the air to advance upwards rapidly.
• The air being elevated is cooled, and as a result, the condensation takes place.
• This upward flow restricts the dissipation of moisture. This creates Cumulonimbus clouds. 
• The condensation makes the water droplets merge and ensures collision, which leads to more voluminous clouds, and once it traverses the cloud’s updrafts, suddenly, the entire precipitation occurs.
• The precipitation that occurs at once causes flash floods.

Consequences of cloudburst comprises the flash floods as all of a sudden plenty of water falls on the ground, landsliding because the water moves down the hill bringing all the rocks, soil and debris under the influence of gravity, and humanitarian crisis occurs due to overpopulation as people are resident near the flash prone areas.

Moreover, climate change is an exacerbating factor. The global temperature rise leads to the phenomenon of change in the climatic patterns and conditions. The frequency and intensity of cloudbursts are elevated and increased due to climate change.

Check out this short blog on Global Warming and its effects

Probability of the prediction of cloudbursts that where and when will it occur is very low because of the efficiency in the process of cloud formations.

In addition to it, the short-term focus must be towards the mitigation by building flashflood resistant infrastructure and by the early preparedness of the disaster.

Long-term focus involves the measures to be taken on local and international levels to reduce the consequences of Climate change. This must be practical and not rhetorical, as the lives of humans, livestock and agriculture depends on it.