What is a thunderstorm and what conditions are necessary for its formation?

A storm with 'Lightning' and its acoustic effect the 'thunder'

Thunder are a storm system characterized by presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the earths atmosphere "the thunder". They are associated with a type of cloud known as the"Cumulonimbus". Although lightning and thunder occur simultaneously, we see lightning first and then hear thunder as light travels faster than sound.

Formation:-

Thunderstorms need the following trio for their formation 1) Moisture 2)Unstable air mass 3)A lift (in this case the heat)

How do they form:-

CUMULUS STAGE : - When a wandering cumulus cloud passes by a heated landscape with high moisture, the cloud is further fed by this moisture and as hot air rises up carrying the moisture with it the cloud grows vertically. This creates an updraft of hot air

Mature stage:- The hot air rises to a height where the upper atmosphere cools it down. The water vapor now condenses to form water droplets suddenly. These then coalesce to form ice particles and eventually drops down. Some of them warm up while dropping down due to friction forming rain. If the ice particles are large enough they eventually end up as hail. the falling rain and hail create a downward draft.

"the interaction between the hotter updraft and cooler downdrafts produce massive internal energy turbulence resulting in lightning and thunder and even tornado systems"

Dissipation stage:- when the rain cools down the ground, the hot updraft and moisture feed is terminated and the storm ends by heavy downpour. in certain condition where there are heavy winds, the updraft and downdraft separate from each other and form Supercells.

Normal thunderstorm cycle lasts for 30 to 40 minutes but Supercells can sustain for hours together.