The vertical movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking, the primary mechanism for tropical thunderstorm formation.
basicWhat is Convection?
Convection is the dominant weather process in the tropics. When the sun heats the ground, the air above warms and becomes buoyant, rising in thermals. As it rises, it cools and moisture condenses, forming cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds. This convective cycle drives the daily rhythm of tropical weather: clear mornings, building clouds at midday, thunderstorms in the afternoon, clearing by evening.
Key points
- The vertical movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking, the primary mechanism for tropical thunderstorm formation.
- Category: basic
Related terms
See also: convection is connected to other weather concepts. Browse the full glossary for related definitions.