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Cyclogenesis
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<p>Cyclogenesis is the development or strengthening of <a href="/facts/Cyclonic_rotation/rucvXWvt">cyclonic circulation</a> in the atmosphere (a <a href="/facts/Low-pressure_area/rphmr6qP">low-pressure area</a>). Cyclogenesis is an <a href="/facts/Umbrella_term/bjxUuoRb">umbrella term</a> for at least three different processes, all of which result in the development of some sort of <a href="/facts/Cyclone/T8IEU0aP">cyclone</a>, and at any size from the <a href="/facts/Microscale_meteorology/JTTNI2Xy">microscale</a> to the <a href="/facts/Synoptic_scale_meteorology/PMYwbEWA">synoptic scale</a>. </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Tropical_cyclone/FQzVXly7">Tropical cyclones</a> form due to latent heat driven by significant thunderstorm activity, developing a warm core.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Extratropical_cyclone/4c5Y4hoJ">Extratropical cyclones</a> form as waves along <a href="/facts/Weather_fronts/n4PXdp1f">weather fronts</a> before occluding later in their life cycle as cold core cyclones.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Mesocyclone/D9BckQcS">Mesocyclones</a> form as warm core cyclones over land, and can lead to <a href="/facts/Tornado/HSGNQzHa">tornado</a> formation. Waterspouts can also form from mesocyclones, but more often develop from environments of high instability and low vertical <a href="/facts/Wind_shear/3d3Qkma9">wind shear</a>.</li></ul> <p>The process in which an extratropical cyclone undergoes a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure (24 millibars or more) in a 24-hour period is referred to as <a href="/facts/Explosive_cyclogenesis/HqH4xyfQ">explosive cyclogenesis</a>, and is usually present during the formation of a <a href="/facts/Nor%2527easter/qvAPgBUS">nor'easter</a>. Similarly, a tropical cyclone can undergo <a href="/facts/Rapid_intensification/4qykgANd">rapid intensification</a>. </p><p>The anticyclonic equivalent, the process of formation of <a href="/facts/High-pressure_area/LLPdNjMW">high-pressure areas</a>, is <a href="/facts/Anticyclogenesis/Vo4aR6u1">anticyclogenesis</a>. The opposite of cyclogenesis is <a href="/facts/Cyclolysis/gc8uU8Bs">cyclolysis</a>. </p>