Thunderstorms

lightning

A sudden spark, or energy discharge, caused when electrical charges jump between parts of a cloud, between nearby clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.

thunder

the sound caused by the rapid expansion of air along an electrical strike

hail

precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents

precipitation

any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

downdraft

Evaporation cools the air, allowing it to become more dense and sink.

updraft

A current of rising air

supercell

extremely powerful, self-sustaining thunderstorm characterized by intense, rotating updrafts

squall line

a row of severe thunderstorms

convection cell

A circular pattern of air rising, air sinking, and wind.

wind shear

a sudden change in wind speed or direction with distance

Doppler effect

An observed change in the frequency of a wave when the source is moving

single-cell thunderstorm

a type of thunderstorm that is short-lived and rarely severe

multi-cell thunderstorm

clusters of thunderstorms that clump together

latent heat

the energy absorbed or released during a change in state

cumulus stage

The initial stage in the development of an ordinary cell thunderstorm in which rising, warm, humid air develops into a cloud

mature stage

the second phase of a thunderstorm, where downdrafts move from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud and produce heavy precipitation

dissipation stage

updrafts stop, winds die down, lightning ceases, and precipitation weakens