Air New Zealand Tech Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Lightning is most likely to occur under conditions where there are strong contrasts in atmospheric temperature, specifically within the range of +10°C to -10°C. This temperature range typically corresponds to the presence of cumulonimbus clouds, which are significant for thunderstorm development.

In these clouds, the temperature differences contribute to the formation of strong updrafts and downdrafts, leading to the collision of ice particles and supercooled water droplets. This process is essential for creating the electrical charge separation necessary for lightning to occur. The intense convection within these storms, combined with the requisite moisture in the atmosphere, creates an ideal environment for lightning formation.

Conditions above +10°C or below -10°C typically do not support the necessary storm development or the presence of the types of clouds that facilitate lightning. Therefore, the middle temperature range, particularly between +10°C and -10°C, is associated with the characteristics needed for the occurrence of lightning during severe weather events.