Thunderstorms 101
Transcript
Off in the horizon they rumble.
Rolling across the land, they darken the skies to then spark fire in the darkness.
Letting out an unmistakable roar.
Thunderstorms are rain showers accompanied by lightning and thunder.
While violent, these weather phenomena are common with about 2,000 occurring at any moment worldwide.
There are four major types of thunderstorms.
Single-cell, which are small, weak, and isolated storms.
Multi-cell, a common of type of storm that includes a cluster of thunderstorms.
Squall line, a collection of storms that form a line hundreds of miles long.
And supercells, the most intense kind of storm capable of producing tornadoes.
All thunderstorms form when warm air in the lowest layers of the atmosphere rises.
Called an updraft, this air causes water from the earth’s surface to evaporate and carries the moisture upward to form clouds.
The clouds then build and grow.
Sometimes as tall as 10 miles high.
The clouds darken as they fill and become heavy with water.
Cool, dry air from the upper layers of the atmosphere known as a downdraft then pull this moisture downward causing it to fall as life-sustaining rain.
In addition to helping sustain life, thunderstorms also help maintain the planet’s balance of energy and electricity.
When energy specifically in the form of heat causes water to evaporate, the heat is carried upward with the water vapor.
As the vapor condenses and forms water droplets, it releases the heat into the higher altitudes of the atmosphere and cools the earth’s surface.
Thunderstorms also help regulate the electrical balance between the atmosphere and the planet.
As clouds in a thunderstorm develop, excess positive and negative charges form within them.
At a certain point, this buildup of opposite charges leads to the transfer of electrons in the form of lightning.
This transference of electricity occurs so quickly that it breaks the sound barrier.
A phenomenon that produces thunder.
While thunderstorms are necessary for maintaining balance in the atmosphere, they can also be hazardous.
Lightning strikes create fires.
Excessive rainfall can cause flash flooding and high speed winds from tornadoes can destroy homes.
Meteorologists study weather systems to try to predict the occurrence of thunderstorms and help ensure the safety of countless communities.
Vocabulary List
rumble
(verb) to make a low, continuous sound
darken
(verb) to become dark; to make something dark
unmistakable
(adjective) impossible to mistake for something else
roar
(noun) a loud continuous sound made by the wind or sea, or by a machine
occur
(verb) to happen
intense
(adjective) very great in degree or force
evaporate
(verb) to change from a liquid to a gas
moisture
(noun) very small drops of water, either in the air or on a surface
life-sustaining
(adjective) necessary for the maintenance of life
sustain
(verb) to keep something going or in existence; to maintain
condense
(verb) to change from a gas to a liquid or solid
droplet
(noun) a small drop of liquid
altitude
(noun) the height of something above sea level
regulate
(verb) to control something
excess
(noun) an amount that is more than is needed or required
charge
(noun) a quantity of electricity accumulated on an object
buildup
(noun) an accumulation of something, especially over a period of time
barrier
(noun) something that prevents or hinders movement or access
hazardous
(adjective) involving danger or risk
excessive
(adjective) more than is necessary, reasonable, or desirable
countless
(adjective) too many to be counted
Grammar Lesson
In this lesson, we will:
– identify words that can function as more than one part of speech
Off in the horizon they rumble.
“Rumble” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “rumble” functions as a verb.
Rolling across the land, they darken the skies to then spark fire in the darkness.
“Roll” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “roll” functions as a verb.
“Land” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “land” functions as a noun.
“Spark” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “spark” functions as a verb.
“Fire” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “fire” functions as a noun.
Letting out an unmistakable roar.
“Roar” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “roar” functions as a noun.
Thunderstorms are rain showers accompanied by lightning and thunder.
“Rain” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “rain” functions as a noun.
“Shower” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “shower” functions as a noun.
“Thunder” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “thunder” functions as a noun.
Multi-cell, a common of type of storm that includes a cluster of thunderstorms.
“Type” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “type” functions as a noun.
“Storm” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “storm” functions as a noun.
“Cluster” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “cluster” functions as a noun.
Squall line, a collection of storms that form a line hundreds of miles long.
“Line” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “line” functions as a noun.
“Form” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “form” functions as a verb.
And supercells, the most intense kind of storm capable of producing tornadoes.
“Produce” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “produce” functions as a verb.
All thunderstorms form when warm air in the lowest layers of the atmosphere rises.
“Warm” can function as:
– a verb
– an adjective
In this sentence, “warm” functions as an adjective.
“Air” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “air” functions as a noun.
“Layer” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “layer” functions as a noun.
“Rise” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “rise” functions as a verb.
Called an updraft, this air causes water from the earth’s surface to evaporate and carries the moisture upward to form clouds.
“Call” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “call” functions as a verb.
“Cause” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “cause” functions as a verb.
“Water” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “water” functions as a noun.
“Surface” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “surface” functions as a noun.
“Cloud” can function as:
– a verb
– a noun
In this sentence, “cloud” functions as a noun.