Fig2 Severe Thunderstorm

Fig2 Severe Thunderstorm

2.3.1.6 Hazards with thunderstorms

A thunderstorm contains every conceivable aerial hazard: lightning, catastrophic turbulence, wind shear, severe icing, destructive hail, and tornadoes.

2.3.2 Lightning

Lightning is the visible electrical discharge produced by thunderstorms. The convective flow of air currents circulating up and down create friction between the opposing air currents. The friction causes electrical charges within the thunderstorm to separate. Charge separation in the thunderstorm polarizes a region with positive charges at the top, intermediate negative charges within the center, and with positive charges at the base. Since electrical opposites attract, an invisible shadow of negative charges track along the ground beneath the thunderstorm.