Name the stages in order of a thunder storm.

Name the stages in order of a thunder storm.

• A. Cumulus, Mature, Dissipating
• B. Mature, Cumulus, Dissipating
• C. Dissipating, Mature, Cumulus
• D. Cumulus, Dissipating, Mature

Answer: (A)

A thunderstorm develops in three stages: cumulus, mature, and dissipating. In the cumulus stage, the storm is building as warm, moist air rises and the cloud grows with little or no rain yet. In the mature stage, the storm reaches its peak intensity with strong updrafts and downdrafts, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. In the dissipating stage, the updrafts weaken and downdrafts dominate, causing rainfall to taper off as the storm loses its energy. So the correct sequence is cumulus, then mature, then dissipating. Starting with mature would skip the growth phase, and starting with dissipating would imply the storm is already ending before it has reached its peak.

A thunderstorm develops in three stages: cumulus, mature, and dissipating. In the cumulus stage, the storm is building as warm, moist air rises and the cloud grows with little or no rain yet. In the mature stage, the storm reaches its peak intensity with strong updrafts and downdrafts, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. In the dissipating stage, the updrafts weaken and downdrafts dominate, causing rainfall to taper off as the storm loses its energy. So the correct sequence is cumulus, then mature, then dissipating. Starting with mature would skip the growth phase, and starting with dissipating would imply the storm is already ending before it has reached its peak.