Storms

Causes

Storms start as a normal cumulonimbus cloud. Massive amounts of water is evaporated up and turned into steam, eventually making a huge cloud that cools down and drops the water down as rain, hail or snow. Lightning also comes down because of an electric discharge in the clouds, which can heat the air to 20,000 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorms have been happening since the Earth got water, 4.4 billion years ago. Most thunderstorms are relatively harmless; however some have caused bushfires or have been accompanied by tornadoes. The Greeks and Romans believed that lightning was a weapon of the gods. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin used a kite and a key to prove that lighning was electricity.  Lightning hit the kite and Benjamin Franklin touched the key that was hanging on his kite thus electrocuting himself.

Survival Tips

During a storm stay inside as this will protect you from all but the strongest shocks. Also, do not use electrical appliances

Before a storm secure all light objects either inside the house, or tie them down with ropes. Turn any electrical objects off.

After a storm, watch out for fallen objects and help other people who have been injured during the storm.

A storm can affect the environment by starting fires, blowing trees up, and flooding rivers.

A storm can affect humans by electrocuting them, flooding towns, starting fires, overloading power plants and destroying houses.

As buildings got taller, lightning became more of a problem, so lightning rods were invented. Lightning rods channel electricity and ground it.

By Billy Hosking