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Thunderstorms and Lightning
Also referred to as a lightning storm, a thunderstorm is a weather form wherein thunder and lightning are present. Thunderstorms, most especially if accompanied by heavy rains and downburst winds, pose hazards to people and the environment.
5,088 Questions
How fast does the return stroke lightning travel?
The return stroke of lightning typically travels at speeds of around 220,000 mph (354,000 km/h), or roughly one-third the speed of light. This rapid speed is what produces the bright flash of lightning that we see during a storm.
Why do people need to know about weather term in there area?
Knowing about weather conditions in their area helps people plan their activities, stay safe, and make informed decisions. It can also help them prepare for extreme weather events like storms or heatwaves. Understanding the weather can also impact daily routines, such as choosing what to wear or how to commute.
There are many benefits from thunderstorms: * Thunderstorms are a direct result of atmospheric heating and increased air convection. Thunderstorms and also hurricanes are a primary cooling mechanism for the earth * Thunderstorms provide water to vegetation and also to lakes and reservoirs. Storms provide about 50 percent of the rainfall to the eastern United States, and 70 percent to the western US. * Storm winds distribute seeds and pollen, and help remove old and weak vegetation and so make way for new growth * Lightning strikes liberate nitrates which fertilize the soil. Lightning produces about 20 percent of the nitrogen to the soil per year, about 250,000 tons of nitrogen to the whole earth every year * Additionally, the updrafts and other wind effects remove large amounts of pollution, transporting it aloft, as well as storm rainfall washing pollution out of the air
Why lightning arrestor should be placed near transformer?
A lightning arrestor acts to reduce a voltage surge due to, for example, a lightning strike on a power line. This will protect the transformer from an over-voltage acting to break down its resistance. A lightning arrestor is connected between each line conductor and earth. Under normal voltage conditions, it acts as an insulator, but when a critical value of over-voltage is reached, it conducts -suppressing the voltage spike.
When is lightning most common?
Lightning occurs constantly year round. However for given areas of the world it varies, usually with the season. In the US there is more lightning in the spring and summer, than fall or winter.
Yes. That's what Mach numbers are all about. Mach numbers compare the sound of something moving through air to the speed of sound moving in that same air. Note that the speed of sound in air will vary a bit as the temperature, humidity and a couple of other things vary. In general, though, it's about 770 miles per hour (dry air at 20 °C (68 °F). A link is provided to the Wikipedia article on the speed of sound.
How is thunder and lighting form?
when electrical charges form in the clouds, a spark of energy is formed that makes a flash of lightning which is also known as electricity. tunder is the sound of the lightning building up the, like a knife through flesh, it tears through the cloud. hope i helped thx 4 reading
How thick of a lightning rod have to be to conduct a lightning?
Lightning rods are typically made of metal and do not need to be particularly thick to conduct lightning. The most important factor is the material's conductivity, such as copper or aluminum, which allows the lightning to safely pass through the rod and into the ground. The diameter of a lightning rod is usually around ½ inch to 1 inch.
What precautions do storm chasers take?
Storm chasers take precautions such as staying a safe distance from the storm, monitoring weather conditions constantly, having a well-equipped vehicle, and seeking shelter if needed. They also stay informed about the storm's trajectory and have a communication plan in place in case of emergencies.
What is the sound or pitch when an ambulance goes by?
This is the doppler effect. If an ambulance is driving towards Jon, the sound waves are tightly stacked in front of the ambulance and are heard by Jon at a high frequency (high pitch). But behind the ambulance the sound waves are lagging because the ambulance is driving away from they sound waves (they are moving in the opposite direction) thus if Jon was standing behind the ambulance the frequency heard would be low (low pitch). The actual sound an ambulance makes is actually obnoxious, and if 100 of them drive by someone's apartment each day, it will make their head hurt and they will often think about why ambulances are so annoying.
Why balls of hail have layers?
Every hailstone begins to form as an ice nucleus, a small cluster of supercooled water droplets or clumps of snow. This center is called a graupel, and it may continue to accumulate ice, melt in the thundercloud and turn to rain, or be smashed apart by other graupels. If a bug, piece of bark, seed, or stick gets blown up into the storm cloud, it creates another possible nucleus for a hailstone.
If the thunderstorm is cold and windy enough, this graupel will accumulate layers of ice the way a dipped candle accumulates layers of wax, through a process called accretion. Opaque, whitish layers form when icy droplets trap air bubbles and stick to the graupel. Clear layers have accreted large drops of supercooled water that freeze when they encounter the hailstone. Of course, much larger hailstones can be made when two smaller ones freeze together.
Hail can accrete more layers when the hailstone blows up through layers of the thunderstorm. Even heavy hail will be kept aloft by strong enough updraughts. When the hail falls back through the storm due to gravity, it accretes even more layers, until it is so heavy it falls as precipitation. Hail forms in most tall, cumulonimbus storms that reach the colder upper atmosphere, but not all hail survives its trip once out of the thunderstorm.
The size of hail, once fully formed, varies from pinheads to softballs. A few outer layers frequently melt when the hail mixes with other warmer precipitation such as snow and rain. The National Weather Service has official size categories for hail that are useful for gauging the damage they can cause to crops. How hail forms gives us a window into the interior of a thunderstorm, helping meteorologists study the evolution of storms as well.
What is a cloud that reaches through more than one level and produces severe thunderstorms called?
That is known as a multi-level or deep convective cloud system. It is capable of producing severe weather such as thunderstorms, hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes due to its great vertical extent and vigorous updrafts.
Is it a bad idea to take a shower in a thunder storm?
Yes, it is not safe to take a shower during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through pipes and electrocute you if it strikes your house. It's best to wait until the storm passes before taking a shower.
Do temperatures increase or decrease when a storm is coming?
Temperatures can vary before a storm. In some cases, temperatures may rise as warm air is brought ahead of the storm system. In other cases, temperatures may drop as cold air is displaced by the storm. It depends on the type of storm and its characteristics.
Why don't the thunder and lightning come together?
Thunder and lighting do occur together during a thunderstorm. Lightning is a sudden discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, which creates the bright light that we see, while thunder is the sound created by the rapid expansion of air around the lightning bolt. Light travels faster than sound, so we see the lightning before we hear the thunder.
What damages can thunderstorm's cause?
They can cause wildfires and housefires, but, because of the rain, they don't last as long as normal fires would, so they usually only leave a big black spot. Now, if there was no rain(very unlikely) then the fires can spread a lot more before it dies out, causeing lots of damage.
Should you be scared of thunder?
It's normal to feel scared of thunder if you have a fear of loud noises. However, thunder is simply the sound caused by lightning, and as long as you are indoors or in a safe place during a storm, you are not in danger.
Where does lightning strike most frequently?
Lightning strikes most frequently in tropical regions near the equator, such as Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America. These areas have warm, moist air that creates ideal conditions for thunderstorms and lightning. Additionally, some regions in the United States, like Florida and the Gulf Coast, also experience a high frequency of lightning strikes.
What can happen if your house was struck by lightning?
If lightning strikes the house you are in, either the bolt will be absorbed by a lighting rod, or it will do a considerable amount of damage to your house. If you need convincing, go out after a storm and find a tree that's been struck by lightning. Go buy a lightning rod.
What is called a thunder storms worst killer?
Lightning is often considered the most deadly aspect of a thunderstorm, as it can strike and injure or kill individuals. Additionally, flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall during thunderstorms can also be a significant threat to life and property.
Why do supercells create the most severe weather?
Supercells have very strong, rotating updrafts (upward moving air currents). The updraft is what feeds a thunderstorm. This pulls large mounts of moisture into the storm, meaning a lot of rain in a short period. Cooling from this rain can produce violent downbursts with destructive winds. The updraft also keeps hailstones aloft, so that they can grow quite large before falling to earth. Finally, the strength and rotation in the updraft of a supercell creates the ideal conditions for the formation of tornadoes, including the most destructive F4 an d F5 storms.
Why is it dangerous to be standing outside in an open area during a strom?
It is dangerous to be standing outside in an open area during a storm because you are at risk of being struck by lightning. Lightning seeks the highest point in an area, so being in an open space makes you a prime target. Additionally, strong winds and falling debris can pose threats to your safety.
What is lightning and what causes the lightning?
Lightning is a sudden discharge of electrons from clouds to the ground. When storm clouds gather up lots of electrons, which are negative, the electrons are attracted to the ground's positive charge (opposites attract). The cloud's electrons build up so much that they leap to the ground in one stream, causing visible lightning.
Does the attraction of unlike charge cause the spark of electricity as lightning?
It would be more accurate to say that lighting is caused by the operation of Coulomb's Law which involves both the attraction of unlike charges, and the repulsion of like charges. When a thundercloud contains a substantial negative charge, the excess electrons in the cloud repel each other. Meanwhile, they are also attracted to the ground.
What does a cumulonimbus cloud produce?
A cumulonimbus cloud can produce heavy rainfall, lightning, thunder, and sometimes hail. They are associated with severe weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and heavy downpours.
