Air pollution promotes more intense and dangerous storms

Air pollution is making summer storms more intense and dangerous, according to a new James Madison University (JMU) study. Experts have found that in an unstable atmosphere, pollution particles increase the number of lightning strikes between clouds and the ground.

To examine the relationship between air pollutants and thunderstorms, the researchers examined half a million thunderstorms in two distinct areas: Washington, DC, and Kansas City, Missouri. They focused on the aerosol and thermodynamic environment surrounding storm initiation.

“Regional weather patterns differ in their propensity to produce thunderstorms and lightning. However, these weather patterns may also be related to different traffic directions and air pollution concentrations," the researchers noted. (Chrissy Sexton, more at earth.com)