Thunderstorms - Introduction

• Are many types
• usually form in an unstable environment - in the mT air mass
• often triggered by:
  • strong surface heating
  • terrain
  • frontal boundaries - examples:
    • cold, warm fronts
    • sea-breeze fronts
    • dryline
• act to transport warm, moist air aloft, and bring down cool air to the surface
• hence, thunderstorms act to stablize the atmosphere