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Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms. Thunderstorms. Definition: a storm containing lightning and thunder. Associated with midlatitude cyclones, localized convection, orographic lifting and tropical cyclones. Thunderstorm Formation. Ingredients warm, moist air (often mT)

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Thunderstorms

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  1. Thunderstorms

  2. Thunderstorms • Definition: a storm containing lightning and thunder. • Associated with midlatitude cyclones, localized convection, orographic lifting and tropical cyclones.

  3. Thunderstorm Formation • Ingredients • warm, moist air (often mT) • unstable (or conditionally unstable if lifting mech.) • encouraged by diverging air aloft

  4. Thunderstorm Life Cycle

  5. The Geography of Thunderstorms Frequency decreases with distance from equator. None above 60o Most occur during summer’s warm temperatures.

  6. The Geography of Thunderstorms

  7. Thunderstorm Frequency • Probably 1500 to 2000 thunderstorms active around the world at any given time.

  8. Violent Associations • Hail • Downbursts(Microbursts) • Lightning and thunder • Tornadoes

  9. Hail • Formation • Largest? Coffeyville, KS, 1970 (1.75 lb, 14 cm diameter)

  10. Downbursts • Macrobursts - extreme downdrafts associated with thunderstorms. • Microburst • smaller • < 5 minute duration • winds up to 146 mph

  11. Lightning • discharge of electricity that occurs in mature thunderstorms • Cause: charge separation in cloud sets up electrical potential • Role of lightning is to equalize these differences in electrical potential. • Important fixer of Nitrogen.

  12. Stepped leader Upward leader Return stroke Electrons down Protons up Circuit complete Repeats every few microseconds with new leader.

  13. Frequency of Occurrence Globally, lightning flashes  100 times per second.

  14. Geography of Lightning

  15. USA: Real-time Lightning http://www.weather.com/

  16. Thunder • Air poor conductor of electricity • Huge electrical potential develops • Lightning bolt ‘superheats’ the air (30,000C, 54,000 F) • Surrounding air expands violently  sound wave

  17. Distance from the Thunderstorm • Speed of light: 300,000,000 km/s • Speed of sound: about 343 m/s • Distance calculation • for each 3 seconds, 1 km away • for each 5 seconds, 1 mile away

  18. Key Points • Thunderstorm formation and life cycle • Thunderstorm geography and frequency • Violent associations • hail, downbursts, lightning/thunder • next lecture….tornadoes

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