Where and how do thunderstorms occur?
Thunderstorms can occur anywhere if the conditions are favourable.In a cold front,if it displaces a warmer air,the warmer air is forced to rise upwards and thunderclouds form due to convection.Moreover there will be a marked wind shift and a steep slope which produce frequent thunderstorms. Thunderstorms develop whem warm,moisture-laden air rises rapidly,causing a cloud to expand upwards.Strong updrafts and downdrafts develop,causing separation of the electrical charges inside the cloud;positive at the top and negative at the bottom.When the difference in electrical charge within a cloud or between the bottom of the cloud and earth’s surface is large enough,elctricity is dicharged in the form an large-scale electrical spark called lightning. Heat from a lightning flash,which can reach about 22000 degree celcius,causes the surrounding air molecules to expand rapidly,producing the sound waves we hear as thunder.
