Hailstone Formation and Impact

The video explains how hailstones form in thunderstorms, starting as ice particles that grow by accretion. Hailstones vary in size based on their time in the atmosphere. Updrafts in storms carry ice particles, allowing them to grow by colliding with supercooled droplets. Large hailstones eventually fall when they become too heavy for the updrafts. Some hailstones melt before reaching the ground, while others reform in the clouds. Hailstorms can cause significant damage to crops and property, with notable events recorded in the United States.

What is the primary factor that determines the size of a hailstone?

• The temperature of the cloud

• The amount of sunlight

• The duration it stays in the atmosphere

• The speed of the wind

What is the role of accretion in hailstone formation?

• It changes the color of the hailstones

• It accumulates supercooled droplets

• It disperses the hailstones

• It melts the hailstones

What role do updrafts play in the formation of hailstones?

• They prevent hailstones from forming

• They carry ice particles above the freezing level

• They provide heat to melt the hailstones

• They disperse hailstones across a wide area

How do supercell thunderstorms contribute to hailstone growth?

• By providing a horizontal trajectory for hailstones

• By dispersing hailstones

• By reducing the temperature of the cloud

• By increasing the sunlight exposure

How does the outside coating of ice affect hailstone growth?

• It makes them lighter

• It prevents further growth

• It causes them to grow larger

• It changes their shape

What happens to hailstones when they become too heavy for the updraft to support?

• They split into smaller pieces

• They evaporate

• They rise higher into the cloud

• They fall to the ground

Under what conditions can hailstones be lifted back into the storm?

• When they are small and light

• When the updraft is strong enough

• When the temperature is above freezing

• When the wind is calm

What is the primary cause of hailstone melting before reaching the ground?

• Warm air below the cloud

• Strong sunlight

• Lack of moisture

• High wind speeds

What is the economic impact of hailstorms in the United States?

• They cause minor damage to crops

• They only affect vehicles

• They have no significant impact

• They result in hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually

Where was the largest recorded hailstone in the United States found?

• South Dakota

• Nebraska

• Texas

• Florida