GEOG 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5.6-5.9: Hail, Outflow Boundary, Sea Breeze
Document Summary
Thunderstorms- columns of moist, turbulent air with variable amounts of rain, strong wind, lightning, and hail. Single cell thunderstorms- individual thunderstorm that is independent of larger storm systems. Development characterizes single cell thunderstorms: cumulus stage- surface heats more rapidly than the atmosphere above it. Updraft- heated near surface air rises relative to adjacent air. Cumuliform clouds: mature stage- beginning of rainfall. Gust front- cool wind gusts: dissipating stage- removing unstable conditions that caused rising motions. Continued rainfall until much of the moisture is rained out of the cloud. Entrainment- mixing in of the other air. Cloud mergers- two cumuliform clouds forced together by winds. Vertical wind shear- any increase in horizontal wind speed with height. Supercell thunderstorm- much larger single cell thunderstorm. Dry line- more humid air mass lifted up and over the drier air mass. Squall line thunderstorms- resulting storms from the dry line. Mesocyclone- rotating vertex found in supercell thunderstorms: 1/3 form tornadoes.
