Thunderstorms

• How do thunderstorms develop?

  • Warm air exists under colder air > urban convection strong - heat energy built up in atmopshere> warm air rises > cools and condenses > form small water droplets
  • If there is enough instability > updraft of warm air is rapid > water vapour quickly form a cumulonimbus cloud
  • Warm air continues to rise > water droplets combine to create larger droplets > freeze > form ice crystals
  • Circulating air in the clouds > water freezes on the surface of the droplet or crystal > droplets become too heavy to be supported by the updraft of air > fall as hail
• How do thunderstorms form (2):

  • As hail moves within the cloud > picks up negative charge by rubbing against smaller positively charged ice crystals > negative charge forms at base of cloud > hail collects, while lighter crystals remain near the top of the cloud and create positive charge
  • Negative charge > attracted to Earth's surface and other clouds and objects > attraction becomes too strong > + & - charge come together or discharge > to balance the difference in a flash of lightning > rapid expansion and heating of air causes by lightning > produces thunder
• Consequences of thunderstorms:

  • Flash floods
  • Cancelled flights
  • Wildfires
  • Disrupt infrastructure
  • Death