Stormscope
®
WX-500 User’s Guide
2-1
CHAPTER 2
STORM MAPPING PRINCIPLES
ANATOMY OF A THUNDERSTORM
T
he WX-500 is intended to help pilots avoid the dangers associated
with thunderstorms (convective wind shear, lightning, icing,
tornadoes, etc.). The WX-500 locates thunderstorms by detecting the
electrical discharges that thunderstorms always generate. Figure 2-1
shows how thunderstorms create electrical discharges and radiate
electromagnetic signals.
Figure 2-1: Electrical Discharges in Thunderstorms
W
ar
m
Air
M
as
s
C
old Air
M
as
s
W
ar
m
Air
M
as
s
C
old Air
M
as
s
100
nm
i
20
0 n
m
i
a
b
b
c
d
a.
The convective flow of air currents (warm air going up and
cold air going down) leads to friction between the opposing air
currents and wind shear in the space between the opposing
air currents. The closer together the opposing air currents are,
the greater the shearing force of the air currents.
b. The friction between the opposing air currents causes
electrical charges in the area to separate. As positive (+)
and negative (–) electrical charges are separated, they
accumulate in masses of similar charges (positive charges
near the top of the cloud and negative charges near the
bottom).
