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Thunderstorms

The terms "convection" and "thunderstorms'' often are used interchangeably, although thunderstorms are only one form of convection, which is a vertical transport of heat and moisture in the atmosphere, especially by updrafts and downdrafts in an unstable atmosphere. 

 

Image of thunderstorms

NOAA-20 saw a series of thunderstorms bubbling up over southeastern Africa, which appear in this true color image captured by the satellite's VIIRS sensor above.

 

Examples of Thunderstorms

Gulf Coast thunderstorms bubble up above a blanket of clouds in this GOES East view from April 5, 2019.
Gulf Coast thunderstorms bubble up above a blanket of clouds in this GOES East view from April 5, 2019.
See these storms
Image of a storm over cuba
On April 26, 2020, the GOES-East satellite captured explosive yet beautiful thunderstorms unfolding across Cuba.
Watch thunderstorms over Cuba