Question

Write short notes on Thunderstorms and cyclones.

Answer 1

The cyclones are irregular wind movements involving closed air circulation around a low pressure centre. This closed air circulation is caused by atmospheric disturbances over and above the earth’s surface, coupled with the earth’s ‘rotation which imparts to these disturbances a whirling motion.

Cyclones are associated with destructive and violent disturbances, such as heavy squalls and torrential rainfall.


Thunderstorm, a violent, short-lived weather disturbance that is almost always associated with lightning, thunder, dense clouds, heavy rain or hail, and strong, gusty winds. Thunderstorms arise when layers of warm, moist air rise in a large, swift updraft to cooler regions of the atmosphere. There the moisture contained in the updraft condenses to form towering cumulonimbus clouds and, eventually, precipitation. Columns of cooled air then sink earthward, striking the ground with strong downdrafts and horizontal winds. At the same time, electrical charges accumulate on cloud particles (water droplets and ice). Lightning discharges occur when the accumulated electric charge becomes sufficiently large. Lightning heats the air it passes through so intensely and quickly that shock waves are produced; these shock waves are heard as claps and rolls of thunder. On occasion, severe thunderstorms are accompanied by swirling vortices of air that become concentrated and powerful enough to form tornadoes.

Answer 2

The wind blows due to uneven heating of Earth. This is useful as it is used as a form of energy. Rain is also caused due to moisture-laden monsoon winds. Rainfall is much awaited by farmers as they mainly depend on it for their crops. But do rain and winds always bring happy situations? No. Thunderstorms and cyclones can be caused due to excessive rain and heavy winds, which bring a lot of destruction of property and life. Let us know more!