Producing Stormy Gusts, Thunder, The Cumulo-Nimbus (Term Paper Sample)

1 Introduction
A thunderstorm is a storm with thunder and occasionally accompanied by lightning. It forms due to cumulo-nimbus clouds, typically producing stormy gusts, heavy rain and occasionally hailstones. A thunderstorm formed by a single cumulo-nimbus cloud influnces only a small area, while the one linked to clusters of cumulo-nimbus clouds cover a large area (Lutgens & Tarbuck, 2010). Even though, by demarcation rainfall need not be accompanied by thunderstorm (in dry climates, thunderstorm often occurs with minimal amount of rainfall) (Oliver & Hidore, 2003).
The cumulo-nimbus grows horizontally from 2000 to 4000 meters in diameter to 10,000 or 15,000 meters. The top of the cumulo-nimbus clouds can reach 12,000 meters during the cumulus phase. The cloud then attains its vertical growth close to the end of the scattering stage, attaining almost 10,000 meters and occasionally infiltrating the tropopause to heights greater than 15,000 meters (Muthama et. al., 2003).
It is approximated that almost 45,000 thunderstorms occur each day in the world. This translates to 16 million thunderstorms yearly (Khan & Arsalan, 2007). Thunderstorms are deemed as a parameter having a superior significance among the meteorological parameters due to their nature of occurrence anywhere and anytime (William, 1961). Thunderstorms can cause a lot of damage to property as well as lead to casualties and/or loss of lives. Thunderstorms have led to the loss of many lives through lightning strikes or aircraft accidents associated with severe thunderstorms. As an economic factor, aircrafts are forced to divert from their routes away from thunderstorm areas and therefore use more fuel. Accidents of aircrafts can also occur in downbursts.
A study in St. Louis, Missouri, by Rozoff, Cotton and Adegoke, (2002) showed that the occurrence of hail was increasing over the years. Huge hailstones have a negative effect on a society in that it can wipe out a field of crops in minutes and damage property. Food crops are also destroyed yet agriculture is the main source of livelihood for many people in tropical areas.
Convection is a very important activity in the tropics and when it occurs, there is a release of latent heat, the formation of clouds and precipitation. In comprehending the timing, period, and incidence of profound convection in Asia, satellite surveillances are used. Asia is a region with some of the strongest storms. Convection starts by heating of water surfaces and elevated terrain (Laing & Carbone, 2011). Convection can also be caused by latent heat released when water vapor condenses to form liquid droplets.
Thunderstorms are driven by deep convective clouds in East Africa and other parts of the world. The atmosphere is abruptly and intensely heated during a lightening flash, with an enormous expansion of air, which produces sound waves that are heard as thunder occurs as a result. Due to its violent and devastating consequences and complicated forming procedure, experts have relentl...