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Atmospheric river

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Atmospheric river

An atmospheric river (AR) is a narrow corridor or filament of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. Other names for this phenomenon are tropical plume, tropical connection, moisture plume, water vapor surge, and cloud band.

Atmospheric rivers consist of narrow bands of enhanced water vapor transport, typically along the boundaries between large areas of divergent surface air flow, including some frontal zones in association with extratropical cyclones that form over the oceans. Pineapple Express storms are the most commonly represented and recognized type of atmospheric rivers; the name is due to the warm water vapor plumes originating over the Hawaiian tropics that follow various paths towards western North America, arriving at latitudes from California and the Pacific Northwest to British Columbia and even southeast Alaska.

Tables

Atmospheric river categories[17] · Description › Scale
1
1
Cat
1
Strength
Weak
Impact
Primarily beneficial
Max. IVT
≥500–750
Duration
<24 hours
≥250–500
≥250–500
Cat
≥250–500
Strength
24–48 hours
2
2
Cat
2
Strength
Moderate
Impact
Mostly beneficial, also hazardous
Max. IVT
≥750–1000
Duration
<24 hours
≥500–750
≥500–750
Cat
≥500–750
Strength
24–48 hours
≥250–500
≥250–500
Cat
≥250–500
Strength
>48 hours
3
3
Cat
3
Strength
Strong
Impact
Balance of beneficial and hazardous
Max. IVT
≥1000–1250
Duration
<24 hours
≥750–1000
≥750–1000
Cat
≥750–1000
Strength
24–48 hours
≥500–750
≥500–750
Cat
≥500–750
Strength
>48 hours
4
4
Cat
4
Strength
Extreme
Impact
Mostly hazardous, also beneficial
Max. IVT
≥1250
Duration
<24 hours
≥1000–1250
≥1000–1250
Cat
≥1000–1250
Strength
24–48 hours
≥750–1000
≥750–1000
Cat
≥750–1000
Strength
>48 hours
5
5
Cat
5
Strength
Exceptional
Impact
Primarily hazardous
Max. IVT
≥1250
Duration
24–48 hours
≥1000
≥1000
Cat
≥1000
Strength
>48 hours
Notes .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Maximum vertically integrated water vapor transport, 3-hour average, units of k g m 2 ⋅ s {\displaystyle {\frac {kg}{m^{2}\cdot s}}}
Notes .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Maximum vertically integrated water vapor transport, 3-hour average, units of k g m 2 ⋅ s {\displaystyle {\frac {kg}{m^{2}\cdot s}}}
Cat
Notes .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Maximum vertically integrated water vapor transport, 3-hour average, units of k g m 2 ⋅ s {\displaystyle {\frac {kg}{m^{2}\cdot s}}}
Cat
Strength
Impact
Max. IVT
Duration
1
Weak
Primarily beneficial
≥500–750
<24 hours
≥250–500
24–48 hours
2
Moderate
Mostly beneficial, also hazardous
≥750–1000
<24 hours
≥500–750
24–48 hours
≥250–500
>48 hours
3
Strong
Balance of beneficial and hazardous
≥1000–1250
<24 hours
≥750–1000
24–48 hours
≥500–750
>48 hours
4
Extreme
Mostly hazardous, also beneficial
≥1250
<24 hours
≥1000–1250
24–48 hours
≥750–1000
>48 hours
5
Exceptional
Primarily hazardous
≥1250
24–48 hours
≥1000
>48 hours
Notes .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Maximum vertically integrated water vapor transport, 3-hour average, units of k g m 2 ⋅ {m^{2}\cdot s}}}

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