Understanding Thunderstorms

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts related to thunderstorms, their formation, stages, hazards, and impacts.

Thunderstorm

A weather phenomenon characterized by lightning, thunder, winds, and hail.

Cyclone

A circulation system around a low-pressure center, which includes mid-latitude cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

Air-mass thunderstorms

Thunderstorms that form from warm, humid air rising in unstable environments.

Frontal lifting

Thunderstorms formed when air masses collide, often leading to severe weather.

Cumulus stage

The initial stage of a thunderstorm characterized by the growth of clouds and vertical development due to convective lift.

Mature stage

The stage in a thunderstorm where heavy precipitation occurs, and both updrafts and downdrafts are present.

Dissipating stage

The final stage of a thunderstorm where downdrafts dominate, ending the updrafts that provide moisture.

Vertical wind shear

The change in wind speed or direction with altitude, crucial for the development of severe thunderstorms.

Microburst

A small, intense downdraft that can produce damaging winds and is a significant flight hazard.

Gust front

The leading edge of cool air from a thunderstorm that can kick up dust and has implications for weather forecasting.

Shelf cloud

A low, horizontal cloud that often forms at the leading edge of a thunderstorm.

Supercell

A highly organized thunderstorm characterized by a rotating updraft (mesocyclone) and potential for severe weather.

Mammatus clouds

Pouch-like clouds that hang beneath the anvil of a thunderstorm, indicating turbulent weather.

Precipitation

Any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds, such as rain or hail.

Downdraft

A downward current of air within a thunderstorm associated with falling precipitation.

Updraft

An upward current of air in a thunderstorm, essential for cloud formation and growth.

Hail

Ice pellets formed in thunderstorms, which can cause significant damage to aircraft and infrastructure.

Rolling cloud

A cloud that forms at the leading edge of a gust front, often seen before thunderstorms.

Entrainment

The process of surrounding cool, dry air being drawn into a thunderstorm, enhancing downdrafts.

Tornado

A rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, often resulting from a supercell.

Severe Thunderstorm

A thunderstorm that produces winds over 58 mph, hail larger than 1 inch, or tornadoes.

Latent heat

The heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid, contributing to the energy of storm systems.

Instability

A condition in the atmosphere that allows for warm, moist air to rise and potentially form thunderstorms.

Moisture

Water vapor present in the atmosphere, essential for cloud formation and precipitation.

Lifting mechanism

A force that causes air to rise, essential for the development of thunderstorms.

Temperature/dew point spread

The difference between air temperature and dew point, a factor in thunderstorm development.

Capping inversion

A layer of warm air above cooler air that can suppress thunderstorm development unless broken.

Squall line

A line of severe thunderstorms that can produce heavy rain, wind, and hail.

Radar signature

The reflection of precipitation detected on radar, which can indicate storm intensity and structure.

Thunderstorm hazards

Risks associated with thunderstorms, including strong winds, hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes.

Overshooting top

The protrusion of a thunderstorm cloud into the stratosphere, indicating strong updrafts.

Flight hazard

A risk to aviation safety posed by adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms.

Extremes of vertical motion

The rapid upward and downward movements of air in thunderstorms, contributing to severe weather.

Cloud base

The lowest part of a cloud from which precipitation may fall.

Precipitation type

The kind of precipitation produced by a thunderstorm, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.