Thunderstorms:
Thunderstorms in the U.S:
Hurricanes:
- Thunderstorms need convection of warm, moist air.
- Thunderstorms are most likely to occur around the ICTZ.
Thunderstorms in the U.S:
- In the U.S. the area with the most thunderstorms is Florida.
- Florida has sea breezes coming from both the Atlantic and the Gulf
- Hot air over Florida gets forced upwards
- Increased convection leads to more thunderstorms
Hurricanes:
- Hurricanes start out as a small group of thunderstorms
- Convection of warm, moist air can form large cumulonimbus clouds
- First stage of a hurricane is born: Tropical Disturbance.
- Tropical Disturbance→ Tropical Depression→ Tropical Storm→ Hurricane
- The convection that takes place during a hurricane organize into “spiral bands”
- Intense region of convection is the eye-wall
- Wind shear can disrupt the convective organization
- If the hurricane moves over cooler water convection can no longer take place.