Thunderstorms and Lightning
Thunderstorms develop in hot, humid tropical areas like India.
- Rising Air: Intense heat creates strong upward rising winds.
- Condensation: These winds carry water droplets upwards, where they freeze and fall again.
- Static Charge: The swift movement of falling water droplets and rising air creates friction, generating electric charges.
- Top of cloud: Positive (+)
- Bottom of cloud: Negative (-)
- Lightning: When charges build up heavily, they discharge through the air as a bright flash (lightning) and sound (thunder).
Note
Lightning Safety:
- Do NOT stand under a lone tree.
- If in a forest, stay under small trees.
- If in an open field, crouch low (do not lie flat).
- Avoid umbrellas with metal rods.
Cyclones
A cyclone is a huge, spinning storm formed over warm oceans.
Formation Process
- Warm Ocean: Water must be warm (provides moisture and heat).
- Rising Air: Warm, moist air rises, creating a Low Pressure zone.
- Condensation: Water vapour condenses into rain clouds. This releases Latent Heat.
- Fuel: This heat warms the air further, causing it to rise faster. More air rushes in.
- Spin: Due to Earth’s rotation, the rushing air starts spiraling.
- The Eye: The calm center of the storm is the “Eye”. Around it are violent winds and heavy rain.
Destruction
- Strong Winds: Destroy houses, trees, power lines.
- Storm Surge: The low pressure lifts the sea level, pushing a wall of water inland (flooding).
- Heavy Rain: Causes floods.
Safety Measures
- Listen to weather warnings (IMD).
- Move to cyclone shelters.
- Keep an emergency kit ready.
- Do not venture into the sea.