Interesting Facts about Thunderstorm
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We all know for a fact that "thunderstorm" only occurs during a bad weather condition. In most cases, the clouds from the sky turns dark and gusty winds tends to blow around in different directions. It is then followed by a heavy rainfall and sometimes along with hails. According to some scientists, all of these events are actually caused by a particular cloud known as the "Cumulonimbus".
Throughout the years that scientists have been studying thunderstorms, they had covered several interesting facts about it. So here they are:
1. Lightning and thunder always occur one after the other. It's because lightning is what actually produce thunder. The scientific explanation is that, thunder is generated due to the sudden expansion of air that has been rapidly heated by lightning.
2. Most recorded deaths and serious injuries caused by lightning were those people caught outdoors during the month of Summer. Based on the records, common incidents usually occur during the afternoon and evening.
3. In the Greek Mythology, Zeus was the god that possess the power of lightning and thunder. His Norse Mythology counterpart was Thor.
4. The most interesting fact that you might want to know is that, right now there are around 18, 000 thunderstorms that are taking place on different parts of the world.
5. The place that suffers the most thunderstorm occurrences is at Tororo, Uganda. Some scientists claim that this place experiences thunderstorms for 251 days a year.
6. If you have a fear of the loud trembling sound of the thunder then you probably have a phobia known as the "Brontophobia". It's "Astrophobia" if you fear both lightning and thunder.
7. When a certain individual got struck by a lightning, they do not carry any electrical charge. Thus, it is completely safe to touch them which is a "must" because they need immediate medical attention.
8. Did you know that even if you follow all the safety precautions to avoid lightning strikes, there is still a possibility that you will get hit?
According to some mathematicians, they had calculated that there's about 1 out of 600, 000 chances that you will get hit by lightning if you "do not follow" the safety precautions. This chances can be reduced if you know how to follow the safety precautions.
8. When lightning is about to occur near you, you will notice that your hair stands up on their ends.
9. The distance of the lightning can be calculated mathematically which gives an estimated result.
Tropical regions of the world is what often experienced thunderstorm along with heavy rainfall. But, there are some strange occurrences where there's a lightning storm but no rainfall. Some scientists actually explains that rain and lightning are two different forces of nature. In short, they are created in a different process.
As already covered in the previous posts, lightning are created by charged particles inside the clouds. These particles include ice, water and dusts. And through the clouds' movements, the particles inside are forced to bump and collide with one another which causes friction that produces static electricity.
Unlike lightning, rains are created when the air in the atmosphere can no longer hold on to the amount of "Water Vapor" that they contain. This usually happens when a mass of cold air collides against wet-mass of hot air.
According to some source, hot air holds larger amount of water vapor as compared to the cold air. So what actually happens is that, when the hot air made collision with the cold air, the result is a battle of temperature. Unfortunately, cold air will always influence the hot air to become cold. This will decrease the amount of water that the air can hold where it needs to get rid some of it. As the final result, rainfall drops from the sky.
It actually all depends to the current condition of the thunderstorm. You have to know that a plane can still fly regardless of an occurring thunderstorm provided that there is no possible threat that has been detected.
Pilots actually studied everything about weather which is a part of their field of expertise. Thus, they really know what kind of thunderstorm to avoid which allows them to decide either to continue or not.
Anyway, if you travel a lot then you might already have some experiences of getting delayed due to a bad weather conditions. There's really no reason for you to complain because it is for your own safety.
Here are some following reasons why a pilot decides to delay the flight:
1. Bad Thunderstorm
Bad thunderstorm accompanied by large hailstorms, icing and severe turbulence had already caused countless number of plane crashes throughout history.
A large-sized hailstones can accidentally hit and damage the airframe of a plane. This usually happens when the plane goes inside the clouds.
2. Large Hurricane
A plane can suffer a bad turbulence when flown through a large hurricane.
3. Strong Wind
A strong or powerful wind blowing-off around the airport is not safe for any plane to take-off.
4. Visibility
The pilots must have clear visibility upon take-off. But if it's quite too foggy, they will issue a flight delay.
Lightning is not considered a threat for a plane to fly. In fact, it is considered as a safe flying zone if the thunderstorm is simply causing some flashes of lightning. If you are worried that the lightning might struck your plane, relax because all commercial planes are now designed with a system that can withstand them. Thus, if the thunderstorm simply consists of lightning then the flight resumes.
Throughout the years that scientists have been studying thunderstorms, they had covered several interesting facts about it. So here they are:
1. Lightning and thunder always occur one after the other. It's because lightning is what actually produce thunder. The scientific explanation is that, thunder is generated due to the sudden expansion of air that has been rapidly heated by lightning.
2. Most recorded deaths and serious injuries caused by lightning were those people caught outdoors during the month of Summer. Based on the records, common incidents usually occur during the afternoon and evening.
3. In the Greek Mythology, Zeus was the god that possess the power of lightning and thunder. His Norse Mythology counterpart was Thor.
4. The most interesting fact that you might want to know is that, right now there are around 18, 000 thunderstorms that are taking place on different parts of the world.
5. The place that suffers the most thunderstorm occurrences is at Tororo, Uganda. Some scientists claim that this place experiences thunderstorms for 251 days a year.
6. If you have a fear of the loud trembling sound of the thunder then you probably have a phobia known as the "Brontophobia". It's "Astrophobia" if you fear both lightning and thunder.
7. When a certain individual got struck by a lightning, they do not carry any electrical charge. Thus, it is completely safe to touch them which is a "must" because they need immediate medical attention.
8. Did you know that even if you follow all the safety precautions to avoid lightning strikes, there is still a possibility that you will get hit?
According to some mathematicians, they had calculated that there's about 1 out of 600, 000 chances that you will get hit by lightning if you "do not follow" the safety precautions. This chances can be reduced if you know how to follow the safety precautions.
8. When lightning is about to occur near you, you will notice that your hair stands up on their ends.
9. The distance of the lightning can be calculated mathematically which gives an estimated result.
Why there is No Rain on some Thunderstorm?
Tropical regions of the world is what often experienced thunderstorm along with heavy rainfall. But, there are some strange occurrences where there's a lightning storm but no rainfall. Some scientists actually explains that rain and lightning are two different forces of nature. In short, they are created in a different process.
As already covered in the previous posts, lightning are created by charged particles inside the clouds. These particles include ice, water and dusts. And through the clouds' movements, the particles inside are forced to bump and collide with one another which causes friction that produces static electricity.
Unlike lightning, rains are created when the air in the atmosphere can no longer hold on to the amount of "Water Vapor" that they contain. This usually happens when a mass of cold air collides against wet-mass of hot air.
According to some source, hot air holds larger amount of water vapor as compared to the cold air. So what actually happens is that, when the hot air made collision with the cold air, the result is a battle of temperature. Unfortunately, cold air will always influence the hot air to become cold. This will decrease the amount of water that the air can hold where it needs to get rid some of it. As the final result, rainfall drops from the sky.
Do Planes still Fly during a Thunderstorm?
It actually all depends to the current condition of the thunderstorm. You have to know that a plane can still fly regardless of an occurring thunderstorm provided that there is no possible threat that has been detected.
Pilots actually studied everything about weather which is a part of their field of expertise. Thus, they really know what kind of thunderstorm to avoid which allows them to decide either to continue or not.
Anyway, if you travel a lot then you might already have some experiences of getting delayed due to a bad weather conditions. There's really no reason for you to complain because it is for your own safety.
Here are some following reasons why a pilot decides to delay the flight:
1. Bad Thunderstorm
Bad thunderstorm accompanied by large hailstorms, icing and severe turbulence had already caused countless number of plane crashes throughout history.
A large-sized hailstones can accidentally hit and damage the airframe of a plane. This usually happens when the plane goes inside the clouds.
2. Large Hurricane
A plane can suffer a bad turbulence when flown through a large hurricane.
3. Strong Wind
A strong or powerful wind blowing-off around the airport is not safe for any plane to take-off.
4. Visibility
The pilots must have clear visibility upon take-off. But if it's quite too foggy, they will issue a flight delay.
Lightning is not considered a threat for a plane to fly. In fact, it is considered as a safe flying zone if the thunderstorm is simply causing some flashes of lightning. If you are worried that the lightning might struck your plane, relax because all commercial planes are now designed with a system that can withstand them. Thus, if the thunderstorm simply consists of lightning then the flight resumes.
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