What Exactly are Bomb Cyclones and What Do They Mean for Our Planet?

The East coast U.S. just experienced one, leaving much of the area covered in snow.

Transcript

00:00Some parts of the U.S. have recently experienced what are often called bomb cyclones.

00:09And while the phraseology is evocative, what exactly are bomb cyclones?

00:13Science Alert reports that it's when a cyclonic weather system goes through a process of bombogenesis.

00:18That's really what it's called, by the way.

00:20A process where cyclonic weather events are exacerbated by extreme barometric pressure drops over a short period of time.

00:25This often provides more ingredients for severe weather events.

00:28And the U.S. East Coast is a haven for these types of weather patterns.

00:32The Atlantic Seaward has a contrast of cold land temperatures and warm Gulf Stream currents.

00:37This temperature differential reaches bomb cyclone potential when the lower atmosphere becomes less predictable as the warm air rises.

00:43Creating clouds that can dump massive amounts of precipitation.

00:46And what are called jet streaks can make things even worse.

00:49Jet streaks can force more air upwards.

00:51Which according to Science Alert creates a feedback loop by dropping the pressure at the center of the cyclone.

00:56Allowing the outer winds to become even more severe as the environment attempts to equalize atmospheric pressure overall.