| Popis: |
This study is a review of the mechanism of thunderstorm and its environmental effects. Thunderstorm is a natural phenomenon. Its occurrence in the Earth’s atmosphere has been from time immemorial. Thunderstorm has been described as a natural battery as it constitutes both negative and positive parts. This natural phenomenon displays a beautiful signature (lightning) and rumbling noise (thunder) in the sky. Thunder is caused by lightning. The heat energy associated with lightning heats up the surrounding air molecules very fast and causes these air molecules to expand rapidly, and also contract rapidly as it cools off; this rapid expansion and contraction produce sound waves(thunder). The occurrence of thunderstorm is always associated with a great deal of damage to humans, infrastructures, and plants. This damage ranges from loss of lives, collapse of crops and economic trees, infrastructures, especially power grid lines which often threw the affected areas into total darkness. Turbulent weather conditions arising from thunderstorm has a huge negative impact on the aviation industries around the globe, as cases of cancellation of flights are abound and occasional plane crashes. A recent research study has attributed the increasing trend of occurrence of thunderstorm over the continent of Africa to increasing surface temperature; meaning that the continent of Africa will most likely experience more of the devastating effects of thunderstorms. To drastically minimize these negative of effects of thunderstorms, accurate prediction of thunderstorms and early warning, keeping to thunder and lightning safety measures, and mitigation of drivers of climate change must be considered. |
