During several winters we have suffered very violent storms that have caused serious damage in our country. Meteorologists announced these types of storms as an explosive cyclogenesis. However, do we know what a cyclogenesis is? What does it depend on if it is "explosive"?
In this article you can learn everything about cyclogenesis. Just keep reading
What is explosive cyclogenesis?
To understand this concept, we first have to know what cyclones are. These are low pressure areas where the wind rotates counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. Almost all squalls or depressions undergo some form of cyclogenesis during their formation and development. In their initial states, they are formed by a wave structure with both cold, warm and occluded front systems. The minimum value of atmospheric pressure decreases during its first part of its life cycle.
Basically explosive cyclogenesis is the formation of a cyclone very quickly and intensely. That is, a drop in surface pressure in a short space of time. This turns into a very violent squall in a matter of hours. The general term used for these very rapidly deepening depressions is a meteorological "bomb."
In explosive cyclogenesis the atmospheric pressure decreases about 24 mb more or less. It usually occurs at latitudes between 55 and 60 degrees. This is because cyclogenesis processes are influenced by the Earth's rotation. They occur most frequently in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. For more information about these climatic situations, you can read about the new storms approaching on the horizon.
How is it formed?
The explanation for the formation of a cyclogenesis of such size is not easy to answer. It depends on the latitude. For a bomb of this caliber to be produced, a storm that interacts positively with another of higher levels must coexist in a timely and synchronized manner. They must be at a sufficient distance so that between them there is a deepening or amplification for the system of depressions in a short time.
Many They often confuse an explosive cyclogenesis with a hurricane or typhoon. They have nothing to do with it. Cyclogenesis only occurs in mid-latitudes and not like tropical cyclones. Although it has the perfect name for a movie, it is not a perfect storm as they say.
They have occurred in Spain on several occasions, although they are rarer in our latitudes. They could be called deep storms for ease of understanding, since their winds are very intense and the gusts are almost hurricane-force. The storm at sea is more severe than in a common storm, which is why it usually causes disastrous consequences. The term explosive is added since it implies that it is very deep. It is also important to take into account the consequences that these storms can bring.
Overview and prediction
There are some differences between depressions that undergo some deepening and intensification processes in this phenomenon. This is because this intensification is gradual rather than rapid. In explosive cyclogenesis, the dynamics of the processes that form it are highly accelerated and virulent. So much so, that it is extraordinary for meteorology and its effects on the surface.
Meteorologically speaking, they need to be called differently since both their formation process and consequences are different. They are categorized in this way. to alert and draw attention to extremely adverse cyclonic disturbances and with special characteristics.
Therefore, an explosive depression is a subset of very deep depressions, but not the other way around. Because this phenomenon takes only hours to occur, it is very difficult to predict. There are no preconditions for predicting the formation of this phenomenon in advance.
Explosive cyclogenesis typically occurs in maritime areas where data are limited. Not all models adequately reflect the conditions. If the initial analysis is erroneous or flawed, it is impossible to predict this phenomenon. Furthermore, numerical models with adequate spatial resolution must be used. That is, models with sufficient aperture to work on a large scale and at the same time on a regional scale to reproduce the small-scale phenomena. If you'd like to learn more about this phenomenon, see the article on the latest sea storms.
Operating models capable of reproducing cyclogenesis in advance they are very rare. Once the explosive process is progressed, almost all models reflect it.
Some similar phenomena
There are meteorological phenomena similar to explosive cyclogenesis. One of them was the case of Gordon in 2006. There were very strong winds that hit Galicia and Delta. However, they were not cyclogenesis as is thought. In the atmosphere there are many situations that generate strong winds and hurricanes in various ways: from small scale (tornadoes) to large scale (hurricanes and explosive storms). This wide spectrum or range of situations can give very adverse winds.
In this case, these winds were a Category 3 hurricane when they were farthest from the peninsula. As a hurricane approaches the Earth's surface, it progressively weakens. It only became a tropical cyclone. When it entered Galicia, it was captured by a cold front from an extratropical low. This caused it to head northwest of the peninsula without ever undergoing a process similar to that of an explosive cyclogenesis formation. To learn about the impact of other formations, you can consult the analysis on storms caused by global warming.
Another similar event was when it happened tropical cyclone Delta in 2005. The intense winds that this cyclone carried with it weakened although the area expanded. That is, although they had less force, they blew through more areas. Later, it was captured by an extratropical disturbance that launched it over the Canary Islands. The local and orographic effects made the winds extremely intense on some of the islands. In no case did it suffer an explosive process. For this reason, almost hurricane-force winds or extremely strong storms are often confused with explosive cyclogenesis.
I hope that with this information the processes and effects that cyclogenesis entails have become clear and that we have helped correct those who confuse it. If you have any questions about this, do not hesitate to leave them in the comments. I will be happy to answer you
