8. In your own words, describe the conditions that lead to a thunderstorm. Be as detailed as you can be and feel free to use graphs, equations, etc.

To form a thunderstorm there must be strong convection to form a Cumulus cloud, which depending on the moisture and the strength in convection process can lead to a Cumulus Nimbus, which is the type of clouds responsible for the heaviest thunderstorms.

Explanation:

Convection is the process known to form the Cumulus clouds that are responsible for most storms, these clouds are charged with water particles that eventually precipitates.

These clouds can be formed by the orogenic process (humid air colliding with mountain ranges), Cold and warm fronts colliding making hot humid air raise condensate water particles and forming clouds, and localized convection in unstable air masses. These processes are known as the Cumulus stage.

In the Mature Stage, depending of the amount of humidity present in the formation process, the cumulus can grow bigger and appear darker because of the number of water particles that are being held by the cloud.

If the amount of water is enough and the cloud has an anvil-like appearance, a cumulus nimbus has formed, these clouds are the most unstable and are responsible for the biggest thunderstorms.