What is blizzard? Their types and description

What is blizzard, we know firsthand. Probably, each of us had to fall into a violent blizzard in the winter. But it is one thing to feel the blizzard, and quite another - to have an entire knowledge base dedicated to this natural and weather phenomenon. So, what is blizzard in terms of the concepts of meteorology and the Russian language? Let's take a closer look at the intricacies of this beautiful, but at the same time dangerous phenomenon of nature.

Snowstorm. Definition

From a scientific point of view, a snowstorm is called the transfer of snow masses over the earth's surface by means of a powerful and gusty wind. This is a natural phenomenon characteristic of the winter season. Distinguish between drifting snowflakes, common and low snowstorms. They are manifested in completely different ways:

• In the form of a light winter drizzle,
• In the form of burans,
• In the form of snow drifts.

Consider all three types of details.

Drifting

What is snow drifting? This is the transfer of snow masses from the surface of the snow cover in layers not exceeding a height of 1-2 meters. Such a blizzard does not lead to a noticeable deterioration of visibility on the roads, unless, of course, there are other atmospheric phenomena (haze, snowfall), and its horizontal visibility at a height of 2 meters is 10 kilometers and beyond.

The driftwood can be observed not only during snowfall, but also in cloudy weather. This phenomenon occurs usually under the condition of a dry and not sticky snow cover. Obligatory condition - wind speed from 5 to 6 meters per second and more powerful.

Common blizzard

What are general blizzards, or common snowstorms? From the point of view of meteorology, such phenomena are accompanied by an intensive transfer of snow through the wind in the so-called surface layer of the atmosphere. They are fairly developed vertically, which causes significant difficulties in determining the state of the sky.

The fact is that the shape and amount of clouds can not be determined during a general blizzard, it is not possible to establish whether the snow falls out of them. A snowstorm of a general nature can only carry snow, lifted by the wind from the earth's surface, and can turn into a so-called zavrukha, spreading through the expanses snow masses coming directly from the clouds.

The Ground Blizzard

This type of snowstorm is characterized by the transfer of snow from the earth's snow surface in layers several meters high with a marked deterioration in visibility. Usually the snow rises from the ground to a height of 2 meters. With this weather phenomenon, vertical visibility is usually quite good. The condition of the sky lends itself to an adequate definition.

Like the drifting snow, a snowstorm can occur both in low-light and clear weather, and in snowfalls. But if you compare it with a general blizzard, a blizzard only raises the snow from the ground and never spreads the snow masses coming from the clouds to the sides. By the way, sometimes people call it a white snowstorm.

What is a riding blizzard?

Above we have considered the main three types of this weather phenomenon. But that is not all! Some meteorologists describe the concept of "snowstorm" as the transfer of snow falling from the clouds, but not yet touching the surface of the earth. This allows them to further distinguish the so-called riding blizzard.

In their opinion, it is characterized by a snowfall in the wind, during which snowflakes fly along with passing or oncoming air currents until the moment they touch the snow cover. As soon as they touch it, they will lie still. Nevertheless, many weather stations (including the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia) do not recognize the riding blizzard as an independent species.

What else do we need to know about snowstorms?

Probably, we all remember a wonderful song, first performed by Alla Borisovna Pugacheva, under the title "Again a snowstorm ...". Ah, if this weather phenomenon were the same metaphorical-romantic as it is sung in this song ... But, unfortunately, in most cases, snowstorms that occur in some regions of our country (for example, in Siberia), deliver real problems to the inhabitants.

Sometimes they can manifest themselves in a variety of and even sophisticated hypostases: it may be snowstorms, snowdrifts, blizzards, steppe snowstorms, etc. For humans, the most dangerous are snow masses moving in the horizontal direction: they impede breathing, movement and significantly worsen visibility.

The blizzard and the blizzard are the same thing?

Not really. Let's repeat again: a snowstorm is the transfer of snow over the earth by means of a powerful and gusty wind. In this case, snow usually moves in one direction. Blizzard is somewhat different from blizzard. Blizzard is called a snow storm, accompanied by a powerful wind, spreading snow masses through the air in different directions.

If you rely on many dictionaries of the Russian language, then both of these concepts are synonymous. But this is only from the point of view of definition. In fact, both these natural phenomena have nothing in common. Blizzard can not even be called a kind of blizzard, since it is a completely independent phenomenon. It is worth noting that it is customary for both cases to use the term "blizzard". "Blizzard" is, rather, the popular name for this phenomenon, praised in prose and poetry, rather than meteorological.