WeatherProphet

Image: Water Droplets In Cloud Suspension


Image: Shockwave from Sonic Boom Forces Droplets Closer


Image: Water Droplets Condense


Image: Water Droplets Condense


Image Droplets Descend To Ground

This is all speculation on my part. I've noticed over the years that a sudden clap of thunder will be followed by a downfall of rain. I've seen this happen hundreds of times, and so there's no doubt in my mind as to the roll that thunder can play in helping to condense rain droplets in a thunderstorm.

For those of you still scratching your heads, let's try the Mr. Wizzard approach. I've noticed small scale, and reproducible condensation events which anyone can test at home. Try filling a styrofoam drinking cup with hot water. Place a see through drink cup lid on the drink cup. Wait until mist forms on the inside of the lid. Then move the drink cup slowly across the table. Make sure that the cup vibrates as you move it across the top of the table. Notice how large beads of water formed along the underside ot the drink cup lid?

Here's another simple Mr. Wizzard style proof of concept observation which you can make. After taking a shower, or bath notice how mist forms on the mirrors? If you have a medicine cabinet which has a mirror this will be easy to do. Leave the medicine cabinet open. Then after mist has formed close the medicine cabinet door. Notice how the mist forms beads across the surface of the mirror?

Vibrations cause the smaller beads of water to condesnse into larger beads of water, and visa versa, depending upon the frequency of the waveform.

Thunder creates shockwaves which spread out from its source - the lightning bolt. These shockwaves create ripples in the atmosphere. Water vapor is condensed within the trough of waves forming rain drops. The rain drops quickly grow in size, and gravity takes care of the rest.

Therefore, lightning via its role in the creation of sonic booms (i.e., thunder) plays an important, and virtually unmentioned role in precipitation.

Image Credit: All Images Created By JeromeProphet of Jerome, Illinois (Springfield, IL).