Mature cumulonimbus clouds are typically called thunderstorms. Lightning occurs as electrical energy is produced from the friction of water in the cloud. A column-like towering cloud forms with a flat top shape, often called an anvil. The anvil is caused when high speed air, called the jet str...
Hail forms in thunderstorms that include strong updrafts. Water vapor condenses in a cloud and is then pulled up by the updraft, where they are frozen. The hailstones grow as additional water vapor is deposited on the surface. Eventually, the hailstones acquire enough weight to escape the up...
The greatest number of thunderstorms occur where? What does leeward have to do with a rain shadow? What is the study of clouds called? What are short waves in meteorology? What is cloud condensation nuclei made of? What runs along the top of the troposphere?
Thunderstorms themselves form like many other clouds: Moist, warm air rises and cools, causing the water vapor to condense into clouds. However, if the updraft continues, this cloud mass will continue to grow and rise 40,000 feet (12,192 m) or more up into the troposphere, the bottom...
Hail is a form of precipitation, typically seen in the spring and summertime, that forms inside thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are comprised of very large, towering, cumulus clouds, many of which can reach more than 50,000 feet up into the atmosphere. Within these clouds exist strong updrafts of...
If the updraft is strong enough, it can create a cumulonimbus cloud, which is a thunderstorm cloud, but in this case, the “pyro” prefix indicates that it is fire-induced. Structure: These clouds can reach the stratosphere, much higher than typical thunderstorms, and are capable of ...
Learn what a thunderstorm is and how it forms. Identify the types of thunderstorms and explore characteristics of single-cell, multi-cell, and supercell storms. Related to this Question What are landspout tornadoes? What is an EF5 tornado?
What causes thunderstorms? A thunderstorm occurs when there is an unstable atmosphere and where cold air meets hot air. The hot air rises, and as it reaches the colder air, it forms water droplets. This process is called convection. Sometimes these water droplets can freeze while moving around...
which was connected via a damp string to an insulating silk ribbon wrapped around the knuckles of Franklin's hand. Franklin's body, meanwhile, provided the conducting path for the electrical currents to the ground. In addition to showing that thunderstorms contain electricity, Franklin was able to...
What is a shelf cloud? Also called an arc cloud, these clouds sit in thunderstorms, and mark the boundary between warm air moving up and cold air moving down. Unlike roll clouds, they aren’t detached from their storm system. What is a flash freeze?