Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Winterstorms

thunderstorms

storms of thunder, lightning, rain, and hail

1. cumulus stage

updraft of moist air forms a cumulus cloud

2. mature stage

cumulus cloud expands upward and forms a cumulonimbus cloud

3. dissipating stage

precipitation accumulates, rain falls, a downdraft is created causing the clouds to evaporate

supercell

large, single-cell thunderstorm with strong updrafts

tornado

violent, rotating, touches down on earth’s surface

mesocyclone

a rotating updraft in a supercell

how does a tornado develop

the air pressure at the centre of a funnel cloud is low so air gets sucked in and expands. the water vapour in the air condenses

what shapes can the funnel tornado cloud be

rope or wedge shaped

what is used to find mesocyclones

doppler radar

hurricane

large, rotating tropical storm with strong winds

hurricanes that hit north america, start off where?

west africa

eye of a hurricane

the core which is cloudless

eye wall of a hurricane

ring of thunderstorms around the centre with the strongest rain and winds

feeder bands of a hurricane

thunderstorms that spiral outside of the hurricane

what does the coriolis effect cause?

counterclockwise hurricanes = northern hemisphere

clockwise hurricanes = southern hemisphere

storm surge

hurricanes cause water levels to increase near coasts and islands

what makes a winterstorm a blizzard

1. winds <56 km/h

2. -7 celsius or lower

3. snow that reduces visibility