Weather terminology gains popularity as extreme events rise

Recent years have seen an increase in the use of meteorological terms related to extreme weather. The American Meteorological Society defines key terms like "bomb cyclone," which involves a rapid drop in central pressure, and "atmospheric river," a corridor of water vapor linked to heavy rainfall. A bomb cyclone requires a significant pressure drop, especially at higher latitudes, and is often associated with cold-season maritime storms. Atmospheric rivers can transport vast amounts of water, exceeding the flow of the Amazon River, leading to intense precipitation. The article also explains the polar vortex, which consists of two circulation systems around the poles. Movements in the tropospheric polar vortex are linked to outbreaks of extremely cold air at ground level.