Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Thunderstorms (Formation and development (Requirements (Unstable…
Thunderstorms
Formation and development
requires presence of Cumulonimbus cloud which will only develop in very unstable saturated air
Steep ELR
Requirements
Unstable atmosphere through a deep layer
adequate supply of moisture
trigger action that causes air to rise
a mechanism that provides electrical discharge
Stages of development
The growing stage
top of 25,000-30,000ft
upice draughts within are very strong
10kms across
Fly beneath, susceptible to strong updrafts
The mature stage
Gets too heavy with water and diminishes updaraught intensity
Updraught and downdraught causes turbulence
Downdraught produces a gust front or squall line ahead of Cb
The decaying stage
Updraughts cease. Downdraught remains
Precipitation is heavy
Types
Orographic
Found in mountains
Heavy precipitation in mature and dying stage
Can persist for a long time
Heat
Moist unstable air is heated from below
Conditions that produce intense sea breeze
persists over the sea for many hours
Frontal
Warm air is unstable and sufficiently moist
2 or 3 hours at most
squall lines can precede a cold front
Defined as one or more electrical discharges manifested by lightning and thunder