What is Cloudburst

Cloudburst is a phenomenon in which a huge amount of water falls from a small part of the sky with great force to the ground. Although it is often said figuratively that a 'cloud bursts', it is actually not an explosion, but an extremely intense rainfall that occurs under certain special circumstances. It can flood an entire area in a very short time. What is the science behind it? 

The real reason: Airflow and gravity 

The basic reason for a cloudburst is the conflict between the powerful upward air flow (Updraft) and the weight of the water particles in the cloud. 

As the strong air rushes upward, it carries a large amount of water vapor and water particles upwards and holds them in a specific place. As more humid air arrives, the amount of water in the cloud increases. At some point, the upward air flow cannot support the weight of this water. At that moment, the billions of liters of water that were held together fall to the ground with great force.  This is what is known as a cloudburst. 

There are two main reasons for this situation: 

1. Orographic Lift 

When strong winds push giant clouds full of moisture forward, high mountain ranges can block their path. These mountains act like a wall, pushing the clouds rapidly upward. Scientifically, this is called 'orographic lift'. As the cloud rapidly rises, it cools rapidly and the water molecules condense rapidly into large raindrops. This unexpectedly increases the weight of the cloud and causes all the water to fall downward, as explained above. 

2. Convective Activity on Plains 

Cloudbursts can also occur on plains without mountains. When the earth heats up during the day, the air at the surface also heats up and rises rapidly. This strong air flow carries a large amount of water vapor to the upper layers of the atmosphere.  There, it cools down and forms large cumulonimbus clouds, causing sudden, heavy rain. 

Official definition 

According to the definition of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst is considered to be when more than 100 mm (10 cm) of rain falls in an hour over a small area (about 20-30 square kilometers). 

Devastating effects 

* Flash floods: When a huge amount of water falls on the ground in a very short time, the soil is unable to absorb it. This water quickly flows into low-lying areas, causing flash floods. 

* Landslides: Water falling with great force on mountain slopes dislodges soil and rocks, causing terrible landslides. This causes great loss of life and damage. 

Is it possible to predict? 

Cloudbursts are difficult to predict accurately because they form so quickly and are confined to a small area. Current technology has limitations in predicting when a cloudburst will occur at a particular location. However, Doppler radars and high-resolution satellite imagery are now able to identify dangerously forming clouds and provide warnings of the possibility of heavy rainfall in an area.