GEOG 2110L Lecture Notes - Cumulonimbus Cloud, Fluid Parcel, Cloud Base

• School: University of Georgia
• Department: Geography
• Course: GEOG 2110L
• Professor: David Stanley

Document Summary

** a storm characterized by a cumulonimbus (cn) cloud & accompanied by lightning and thunder. * on average of relatively short duration, 1 - 3 hours, but may last for up to 12 hours or more. * severe thunderstorms are accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes hail, & tornadoes. * they are a good indication of great instability in the atmosphere and show a great deal of vertical development. * warm, moist air: which releases latent heat energy when lifted and condensation occurs; this provides buoyancy, maintains lift & develops updrafts. * need continuous supply to overcome dry air & evaporation. * high surface temperatures: enhances instability, air parcel warming & uplift. * cumulus stage: initial build-up of cumulus clouds fueled by updrafts (up to 160 kph) of warm, moist air cooling adiabatically; droplet formation by bergeron process &