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Thunderstorms

This Science Minute was researched and written by Alexis B. of Spencer, NY.

Ever wonder about thunderstorms? Thunderstorms happen when a cool front collides with warm, humid air. The cool front pushes itself under the warm air, causing the warm air to rise rapidly and clouds to form. Eventually, the clouds will produce rain, thunder, and lightning.

Lightning is formed when the air molecules in the cloud become ionized. Negatively charged electrons drop down to the lower part of the cloud, while positively charged ions rise to the upper part of the cloud. Eventually, the difference in electrical charges becomes so extreme that the negative charges rush towards the positive charges, either on the ground or within the cloud.

This is when we see a brilliant flash of light we call lightning. Lightning is very hot, reaching temperatures up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit! When lightning heats up the air next to it, the air expands rapidly, sending out an acoustic shockwave. We then hear an explosion of sound we call thunder.