Cloudbursts — violent and voluminous amounts of rain pouring down in a short duration over a small area — have been reported since the mid-19th century. Yet, the characteristics of these events remain elusive, and our efforts in monitoring and forecasting them is at an embryonic stage. However, their disastrous impact that cause loss of lives and property are seemingly increasing in a changing climate and have led to close observations in the recent decade, advancing our understanding of these events.
Clouds blanket 70% of the Earth’s surface at any given time. They are like a thin layer of the floating ocean, with enough water to cover the entire surface of Earth with about one inch of rain. A modest-sized cloud (1 cubic km) may contain more than 5,00,000 litres of water — equivalent to the mass of hundred elephants.
Cloudburst events are often associated with cumulonimbus clouds that cause thunderstorms and occasionally due to monsoon wind surges and other weather phenomena. Cumulonimbus clouds can grow up to 12-15 km in height through the entire troposphere (occasionally up to 21 km) and can hold huge amounts of water.
