An atmospheric river is a "river" of water vapor in the atmosphere. This is an important source of rain in the Western United States. Satellite monitoring is important in their recognition.
Synonym: tropical plume, water vapor surge, cloud band
Features:
(1) a narrow band but long band of water vapor in the upper atmosphere
(2) capable of transporting a large volume of water
(3) releases the water after landfall, sometimes in a short period of time
NOAA states that a strong atmospheric river can carry water vapor up to 15 times that carried by Mississippi River at its mouth.
Complications:
(1) flooding
(2) blizzard
Categories, based on vertically integrated water vapor transport:
(1) weak
(2) moderate
(3) strong
(4) extreme
(5) exceptional
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