The atmospheric conditions only need be right. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to increased winds, cumulus cloud development, and decreased surface dew points. There are approximately 2,000 thunderstorms occuring on Earth at any given moment. Spring, summer, and, to some extent, fall thunderstorms occur because of convective afternoon thunderstorms in an unstable atmosphere. Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference layer in the atmosphere.Different lapse rates within dry and moist air masses lead to instability. As the water vapor condenses it releases heat, which is a form of energy. Not all thunderstorms do become severe, as it requires much more energy, instability and moisture than regular storms. The types of discharges and their structure help scientists better understand the structure of the atmosphere where they occur and of the thunderstorm battery that powers them. Blue jets at the top of thunderstorm clouds, for example, change the concentration of greenhouse gases, another way thunderstorms can affect the stratosphere. When warm moist air meets colder drier air, the warm air rises, the water vapor condenses in the air, and forms a cloud. This is especially true under the anvil of a large cumulonimbus Frontal Thunderstorms: These occur along the boundaries of weather fronts; These thunderstorms can become severe, and that occurs when the updrafts in the thunderstorm (air rising within the storm) become strong enough. But don't be fooled! Thunderstorms can occur at all times of the year, and at all hours of the day (not just afternoons or evenings). When the surface heats up and air rises , a “double sea breeze” causes onshore flow from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic to … In fact even at this moment there are about 2,000 thunderstorms under way. In the spring and summer months, thunderstorms seem to occur like clockwork. So, what are these conditions, and how do they lead to storm development? Thunderstorms are created in one of three basic ways. A necessary condition that must be present for a thunderstorm to occur is an unstable atmosphere, which is caused by convection currents and temperature differences. Thunderstorm Fast Facts. A good proportion of thunderstorms develop when warm, humid air near the ground is forced upwards due to converging surface winds and rises rapidly in an unstable atmosphere. Air mass thunderstorms occur in localized areas of unstable air. 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