Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Cadet Competition Written Exam. Dive into challenging multiple-choice questions with comprehensive hints and explanations. Ace your cadet test with confidence and excel in your journey to becoming a top cadet!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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During which phase of a thunderstorm do updrafts and downdrafts coexist?

Developing
Mature
Dissipating
Pre-frontal

The correct answer is: Mature

The mature phase of a thunderstorm is characterized by the coexistence of both updrafts and downdrafts. During this phase, the storm reaches its peak intensity, and the energy dynamics are at their most active. The updrafts are responsible for lifting warm, moist air upward, facilitating the formation of large cumulonimbus clouds and precipitation. At the same time, downdrafts occur as the cooler, denser air descends, often bringing rain and potentially causing gusty winds at the surface. This phase is also when the storm can produce severe weather phenomena, such as heavy rain, hail, and lightning, due to the strong vertical mixing of air. The interaction between updrafts and downdrafts is crucial for the storm's development and duration. Overall, the mature phase is marked by a balance and conflict between these two types of airflow, leading to intense weather characteristics.