An unstable atmosphere Under the right conditions ......Technically, both the cloud and the ground...
Transcript of An unstable atmosphere Under the right conditions ......Technically, both the cloud and the ground...
ThunderstormsUnder the right conditions, convection can cause a cumulus cloud to grow into a cumulonimbus cloud. These are the same conditions that produce thunderstorms.
Three thunderstorm requirements
● A source of moisture● Lifting of the air mass● An unstable atmosphere
Lightning is caused by the transfer of electricity generated by rapid rushes of air in a cumulonimbus cloud
Does lightning start in the clouds and move down? Or from the ground and move up?
Technically, both the cloud and the ground are responsible for causing a lightning strike.
Partially charged air forms a stepped leader from center of cloud
A return stroke of positively charged particles rushes up to meet it
A lightning bolt is formed!100 million volts of electricity becomes illuminated