A thunderstorm, characterized by electric activity and often accompanied by lightning, generates audible effects in Earth’s atmosphere. These storms can emerge and intensify in various regions but are particularly common in mid-latitudes, where polar cold air mixes with warm, moist tropical air. India has experienced over 16 million thunderstorms to date.
This article provides insights into thunderstorms, including their definition, formation, causes, types, and lightning phenomena, essential for your geography preparation for the UPSC IAS exam. It addresses a substantial portion of the GS paper-1 syllabus.
Thunderstorms are temporary, localized weather phenomena marked by lightning storms. These storms usually occur in warm, humid environments and can bring intense rainfall, hail, and strong winds. Most of these storms happen in the afternoon or evening and last for a few minutes to several hours.
Predicting a scattered thunderstorm’s exact location and timing is challenging. Meteorologists rely on various statistical methods for forecasting thunderstorms. Utilizing output from Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) forecast models is a preferred technique for amateur enthusiasts to assess the likelihood of thunderstorms.
During thunderstorms, it’s important to take the following precautions:
Thunderstorms originate from cumulonimbus clouds, which form when warm, humid air rises rapidly.
Thunderstorms can be categorized into different types based on their formation and characteristics. There are four main types of thunderstorms:
Single-cell Thunderstorms are the simplest and weakest type of thunderstorm. They are short-lived, typically lasting only 20-30 minutes, and form in areas with low wind shear (change in wind speed or direction with height). They are commonly referred to as “pop-up” thunderstorms because they can develop quickly on hot, humid afternoons. These storms typically produce brief, heavy rain and lightning.
Multicell Thunderstorms are the most common type of thunderstorm. They are formed by a line of updrafts and downdrafts that move together as a system. These storms can last for several hours and produce heavy rain, hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes. New cells form along the leading edge of the rain-cooled air, as older cells weaken and dissipate at the back of the line.
Squall lines are long lines of thunderstorms that can stretch for hundreds of miles. They are formed along cold fronts where warm, moist air collides with cooler, drier air. Squall lines can produce damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain. Squall lines move quickly and typically only last for a few hours.
Supercell Thunderstorms are the rarest and most severe type of thunderstorm. They are characterized by a rotating updraft, called a mesocyclone, that can reach speeds of over 100 mph. This rotation allows supercells to produce large hail, tornadoes, and very strong winds. Supercell thunderstorms can last for several hours and travel for hundreds of miles.
The formation of a thunderstorm unfolds in three stages, detailed below:
Single-cell, Multicell, Squall cell, and Supercell are 4 types of thunderstorms.
A thunderstorm is an electric storm which is also responsible for lightning. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm cause a significantly audible effect in the atmosphere of the Earth.
Thunderstorms are caused by layers of warm, moist air rising in a strong updraft to cooler areas of the atmosphere. At that location, the updraft's moisture condenses to create imposing cumulonimbus clouds and, eventually, precipitation.
The three stages in the formation of thunderstorms are Cumulus, Mature and Dissipating stages.
mes and other properties may sustain significant damages. Serious lightning hazard is also an effect of the thunderstorm.
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