FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?

1. Cumulus, dissipating, emerging

2. Mature, cyclical, dissipating

3. Cumulus, mature, dissipating

4. Grassroots, active, passive

The correct answer is: Cumulus, mature, dissipating

The stages of a thunderstorm are correctly identified as cumulus, mature, and dissipating. In the cumulus stage, the process begins with the upward movement of warm, moist air, which causes the development of cumulus clouds. As these clouds grow, they indicate rising air currents that promote the formation of a thunderstorm. The mature stage is characterized by the thunderstorm reaching its peak intensity. During this phase, both updrafts and downdrafts are present, leading to severe weather phenomena such as heavy rain, lightning, hail, and possibly tornadoes. This is the most active period of the thunderstorm cycle where all the severe weather events are typically experienced. Finally, in the dissipating stage, the storm begins to weaken and lose its energy. The downdrafts dominate, and the rising warm air is diminished, leading to a decrease in precipitation and the eventual end of the thunderstorm. The incorrect options either mislabel the stages or do not reflect the accurate terminology used in meteorology, making it essential to recognize the standard terminology of cumulus, mature, and dissipating when discussing thunderstorms. This classification helps in understanding their development and the potential weather hazards they present.