Understanding atmospheric instability
Atmospheric instability is where the Earth’s atmosphere is generally considered unstable. As air near the ground heats, it becomes more and more unstable and becomes …
Severe Weather Theory
Red sprites, gigantic jets, elves: Captivating upper-atmosphere lightning
If ordinary lightning seems pretty ordinary, upper-atmosphere lightning is something else – an entire zoo of various upper-atmosphere electrical discharges. Red sprites, gigantic and blue …
Understanding severe thunderstorms: criteria and impact
During storm season, there is increasing talk about severe thunderstorms. What does “severe” in severe thunderstorms mean? When does a thunderstorm become severe? What criteria …
Lightning: Top 10 Interesting Facts You Need to Know
If you are interested in lightning, you may have wondered about the most interesting facts about this extraordinary phenomenon. We will go through the Top …
Hail around the world: the biggest, heaviest, and deadliest hailstone records
Imagine a melon-sized chunk of ice falling out of the sky and punching a hole in your windshield. Your roof? Breaking bone? In this article, …
What is a Sting Jet?
A sting jet is a narrow core of violent winds that sometimes form within the rapidly intensifying North Atlantic and North Pacific extratropical cyclones, developing …
Catatumbo lightning: The place with the highest lightning activity in the world
Imagine a place with lightning 297 nights a year, up to 10 hours per day! Does this sound like something out of science fiction? Such …
The Science Behind Convection: How Does it Work?
The warmer air has a lower density than the colder air, making it buoyant and causing it to rise. As the air parcels rise, the …