At the horizon over a distant field heavy rain is falling. The white clouds of half an hour ago have risen into a dark tower churning up into the sky. A sudden flash and the delayed low rumble - the power of the thunderstorm is awe inspiring!
Some facts about thunderstorms:
- Thunderstorms form when warm moist air rises into cooler layers above.
- The clouds are over twelve kilometers tall.
- On average, they are over 20km in diameter.
- They lift 500 million kilograms of water vapor into the high atmosphere.
- Lightning bolts can contain up to a billion volts of electricity.
And yet, for all their power they are made only of mist. Each storm exists only for a few hours. Each one disappears leaving only a trace of damp in the ground and the fleeting glitter of raindrops on leaves. Being large and powerful provides no protection. Nothing lasts for long.
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