Stability and Severe Storms Lecture Flashcards

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts from the lecture on stability and severe storms to help students prepare for exams.

Severe Thunderstorm

Defined by the NWS as having hail of 1 inch or larger and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater.

Lift

A key atmospheric ingredient necessary to create thunderstorms.

Moisture

An essential atmospheric ingredient needed for the development of severe storms.

Vertical Wind Shear

A change in wind speed or direction with height, contributing to severe storm formation.

Instability

An atmospheric condition that allows air parcels to rise and lead to the formation of thunderstorms.

Restoring Force

A force that returns an object to its original position; examples include gravity for buoyancy.

Negatively Buoyant

A condition where a parcel is heavier than its surroundings and will sink.

Positively Buoyant

A condition where a parcel is lighter than its surroundings and will rise.

Neutrally Buoyant

A state in which a parcel's density equals that of its surroundings, resulting in no vertical movement.

Skew-T/Log-P Diagram

A thermodynamic diagram used to assess vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and wind.

Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE)

The amount of buoyant energy available as a parcel is accelerated upward, important for thunderstorm development.

Convective Inhibition (CIN)

Represents the energy required to lift a parcel to the Level of Free Convection (LFC); measures resistance to convection.

Lifted Condensation Level (LCL)

The height at which a rising air parcel cools to its dew point and moisture begins to condense into clouds.

Level of Free Convection (LFC)

The altitude above which an air parcel will rise freely without additional lifting.

Equilibrium Level (EL)

The height at which a rising parcel becomes neutrally buoyant and stops rising.