Final answer:
Summertime afternoon thunderstorms in Georgia are primarily developed by the convection process, specifically the combination of phase change and convection. Water evaporates from the oceans, and when it condenses as clouds form, it releases heat, causing the air to rise and drive the development of thunderstorms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Summertime afternoon thunderstorms in Georgia are primarily developed by a lifting mechanism called convection. Convection is the process by which heat is transferred through the movement of fluids. In this case, the mechanism involves the combination of phase change and convection.
Water evaporates from the oceans, and when the water vapor condenses in liquid droplets as clouds form, heat is released in the atmosphere. This heat causes the air to expand and rise, driving the development of thunderheads and producing violent storms.