Thunderstorms

Question 1

What cloud type is a thunderstorm cloud?

Answer 1

Cumulonimbus

Question 2

What characterizes the mature stage of the life cycle of the thunderstorm cell?

Answer 2

Both updrafts and downdrafts

Question 3

What cloud type is the anvil top of a thunderstorm cloud and what is it made of?

Answer 3

Cirrus, ice crystals

Question 4

What is associated with a gust front?

Answer 4

An intense thunderstorm

Question 5

What does the appearance of a flat anvil top on a developing thunderstorm cloud indicate?

Answer 5

It has reached an extremely stable portion of the atmosphere

Question 6

What characterizes the dissipating stage of the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell?

Answer 6

Downdrafts only

Question 7

What is a mesoscale convective complex (MCC)?

Answer 7

A thunderstorm that consists of numerous interacting thunderstorm cells

Question 8

Where does a squall line usually form?

Answer 8

In the mT air along or ahead of a cold front

Question 9

Where is thunderstorm development most favoured?

Answer 9

By conditionally unstable maritime tropical air

Question 10

What are the characteristics of thunderstorm cells associated with a fast-moving, well-defined cold front?

Answer 10

• May be severe
• Often occur as a squall line parallel to and ahead of the front
• Often form an elongated cluster parallel to the front

Question 11

What triggers thunderstorm development?

Answer 11

• Uplift along a well-defined cold front
• Converging surface winds
• Uplift of warm, humid air along mountain slopes
• Forced convection

Question 12

What is a feature sometimes present in thunderstorms that may prolong the mature stage?

Answer 12

A tilted updraft

Question 13

What sector of a mature extratropical cyclone is a supercell thunderstorm most likely to develop?

Answer 13

Southeast

Question 14

What may accompany a severe thunderstorm cell?

Answer 14

• Hail
• Damaging winds
• Heavy rainfall
• Frequent lightning

Question 15

What is a dry line and where does one often occur?

Answer 15

-A site for the development of a severe thunderstorm cell
-Separates hot, dry air from warm, humid air
Often occurs over Texas and Oklahoma

Question 16

What is a gust front?

Answer 16

The leading edge of a mass of cool, gusty air formed as the downdraft exists the base of a thunderstorm cloud, strikes the ground, and spreads laterally

Question 17

How can a gust front spur the development of secondary thunderstorms?

Answer 17

The advancing gust front acts like a miniature cold front, forcing humid air ahead of the front to rise, and ascending humid air may spur the development of a secondary thunderstorm

Question 18

What is the difference between a sea breeze front and a gust front?

Answer 18

A horizontal pressure gradient arising from differential heating between land and water generates a sea breeze front, whereas a gust front is the consequence of a thunderstorm downdraft

Question 19

What causes the anvil shape of a thunderstorm top?

Answer 19

Strong winds aloft help shape the anvil top of a thunderstorm cloud. The flat top of the anvil is produced when the rising cloudy air encounters the very stable air of a tropopause and lower stratosphere.

Question 20

Why might a cloud bulge on the anvil top of a thunderstorm suggest a severe thunderstorm?

Answer 20

The cloud bulge is the product of an exceptionally vigorous updraft and usually indicates an intense thunderstorm.

Question 21

What is the cumulus stage of a thunderstorm cell?

Answer 21

The first stage of the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell where the cumulus cloud is building vertically and merges laterally as the developing system features a strong updraft.

Question 22

What is the mature stage of a thunderstorm cell?

Answer 22

Is the second stage of the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell where precipitation develops and the system exhibits both an updraft and downdraft.
-Lightning, thunder, strong gusty winds, and maybe hail occurs during this stage

Question 23

What is the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm cell?

Answer 23

The last stage of the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell where the downdraft starts to spread throughout the thunderstorm cloud. Precipitation tapres off and ends, and clouds begin to vapourize.