A storm is a phenomenon characterized by the close coexistence of two or more air masses of
different temperatures. This contrast associated with the physical effects involved leads to an
instability characterized by rain, wind, lightning, thunder and occasional hail from other
meteorological phenomena.
Although scientifically defined as a storm that cloud capable of producing an audible thunder, also
they called storms generally violent atmospheric phenomena that on the surface of the earth are
associated with rain, ice, hail, electricity, snow and strong winds which they can carry suspended
particles as the sandstorm or even small objects or living things.
Formation of storms
Storms are created when a low pressure center develops a high pressure system around it. This
combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds like
cumulonimbus.
The thermal contrast and other properties of moist air masses give rise to the development of strong
upward and downward movements (convection) producing a series of characteristic effects such as
heavy rain and surface winds and intense electrical discharges. This electrical activity is evident when
the air breakdown voltage, at which the ray gives rise to characteristic phenomena of lightning and
thunder is generated is reached. The occurrence of lightning depends on factors such as the degree
of atmospheric ionization, besides the type and concentration of the precipitation.
Characteristics
while in the United States the term "Storm" refers strictly to the meteorological field and only
intense storms with surface winds of at least 80 km / h, the term "storm" is much less restrictive.
Storms produce clouds of vertical development cumulonimbus cumulus clouds that can reach the
tropopause at around 10 km altitude. The duty cycle of a typical storm has an initial training phase,
intermediate and final maturity decay lasts about one or two hours.
Generally a convective storm cell has a horizontal area of about ten square kilometers. However,
often several convective cells that trigger heavy precipitation over a period of time longer occur
simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. Sometimes when the wind conditions are right, a storm can
evolve to the state resulting series of supercell updrafts and downdrafts and heavy rainfall for several
hours.
The storms may contain air vortices, ie, wind turning around a center (such as hurricanes). Storms
containing these vortexes (supercells) are very intense and characteristic likely to produce
waterspouts and tornadoes usually originate in very confined areas where the wind does not have
enough escape.
A tropical storm refers to a larger storm in subtropical latitudes alternating ascending, descending
and potentially able to evolve to the state of hurricane regions.
TYPES OF STORMS
Sandstorms
Sandstorms are very common in some countries, however, are great phenomena that cause disasters
of huge categories in countries with a variety of deserts, flat roofs, plains, valleys, among other crops,
dry vegetation, the basic compound of sandstorms is the air moving with a higher power that can
reach up to 500 kilometers per hour.
Supercells
a supercell or supercell (supercell in English) is a huge rotating storm can last for several hours as a
single entity, usually occur in the US Great Plains and the Pampas plains of Argentina. These storms
are most likely to produce long-lasting tornadoes and hailstones the size of an orange.
The supercells tend to form under conditions of high instability, and strong winds at high altitudes,
also have a more organized internal circulation system that make them have a much greater length
than others. In the supercell it is common rotating the emergence of strong currents that make it
potentially the most dangerous types of convective storm, can produce strong winds, large hail and
tornadoes long on a wide path.
Single cell
unicellular thunderstorms, storms also called pulse develop from updrafts of warm air through the
atmosphere. They usually begin with cold fronts pushed from the sea, colliding with warm air and
moisture. Unicellular storms are usually short, lasting about half an hour, and predict when air
movement on the radar. They produce black clouds, thunder and rain, and are not classified as
serious.