Do thunderstorms clear the air?

The rains and winds of thunderstorms often clear out particulate matter in the air. Often associated with a drop in temperature, such disturbances may also literally clear the air.

Why is the air so fresh after a thunderstorm?

In stormy weather, lightning splits atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen molecules. These can then combine into nitric oxide, which, with further reactions, forms ozone. This is then carried downwind ahead of the rain with its characteristic fresh scent.

What happens to the air during a thunderstorm?

Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises into cold air. The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture, called water vapor, to form small water droplets – a process called condensation. The cooled air drops lower in the atmosphere, warms and rises again.

Do storms clear humidity?

Storms tend to leave behind air that is humid and foggy, so in that manner it can make the air less clear. Thunderstorms, and particularly the rains associated with it definitely clear the air of dust, smoke etc.

What is the stormiest place on earth?

Stormiest Places in the World The area that experiences the most thunderstorm days in the world is northern Lake Victoria in Uganda, Africa. In Kampala thunder is heard on average 242 days of the year, although the actual storms usually hover over the lake and do not strike the city itself.

Do storms have a smell?

Scientists say it’s a combination of ozone, petrichor and geosmin. Before it rains, a person might say that they can smell the storm coming. The smell of petrichor has been described in a variety of ways, including earthy, musky and fresh, and tends to be stronger after a lengthy period of no rainfall, he added.

What actually happens during a thunderstorm?

A thunderstorm is a localized storm accompanied by lightning and thunder. It may also have gusty winds and often brings heavy rain. Some thunderstorms can also bring tornadoes and/or hail. And, in the western United States in summer, thunderstorms may be “dry,” bringing lightning and thunder but no rain.

Why does the sky look yellow after a storm?

A yellow sky often indicates there is a winter storm brewing during a relatively warm day. The glow is an atmospheric effect, a result of how the sun is filtering through particular clouds. Shorter wavelengths of light (blue) are scattered quickly, leaving only the yellow-orange-red end of the spectrum.

What was the worst thunderstorm in history called?

DES MOINES, Iowa — The derecho storm in Iowa from this summer is the most expensive thunderstorm disaster in U.S. history. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is estimating total damage valued at $7.5 billion.

Does lightning clean the air?

Lightning may play an important role in clearing the air of pollutants. A storm-chasing airplane has shown that lightning can forge large amounts of oxidants. These chemicals cleanse the atmosphere by reacting with pollutants such as methane. Those reactions form molecules that dissolve in water or stick to surfaces.

What causes thunderstorms to occur?

Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.

What does the sound of Thunder serve as a warning?

The sound of thunder should serve as a warning to anyone outside that they are within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately! Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may

What would happen if there were no thunderstorms on Earth?

There is always a steady current of electrons flowing upwards from the entire surface of the earth. Thunderstorms help transfer the negative charges back to earth (lightning is generally negatively charged). Without thunderstorms and lightning, the earth-atmosphere electrical balance would disappear in five minutes!

What direction does the wind come from during a thunderstorm?

What direction does the wind come from during a thunderstorm? There is no one direction the wind comes from when thunderstorms or tornadoes occur. Where warm moist air is forced to rise by hills, mountains, or areas where warm/cold or wet/dry air bump together, thunderstorms can form.