Final answer:
Storms are created by changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature variations, and moisture, with the pressure difference being a crucial determinant of intensity. Warm water over 80 °F is essential for hurricane formation. Energy condensation, Earth's rotation, and the availability of energy and moisture influence the size and severity of storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ingredients necessary to create a storm involve a combination of atmospheric pressure changes, temperature variations, and moisture. A drop in atmospheric pressure can lead to the development of a storm due to the air movement it causes from a region of higher pressure to lower pressure.
The difference in atmospheric pressure is a crucial determinant of the storm's intensity; the larger the difference, the stronger the potential winds. Another essential ingredient is warm water, which should be above 80 °F for the formation of storms like hurricanes. Warm water heats the air, causing it to rise rapidly and drawing in more air that eventually culminates in strong wind currents, heavy rains from condensation, and storm conditions.
Several factors determine how small or large a storm will be. For instance, the amount of energy released from condensation, which can be substantial in thunderstorms, plays a role in the storm's size and intensity. Moreover, the Earth's rotation affects the rotation of the storm, leading to cyclonic patterns that differ in direction depending on the hemisphere.
Storm reports often indicate these pressure variations and can predict the scale and severity of weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. As the giant planets' wind and weather patterns show, the longevity and scale of storms can be vast, influenced primarily by atmospheric conditions and the availability of energy and moisture to fuel the storm's system.