Final answer:
When warm air rises above cold air, it creates a buoyant force due to its lower density, leading to upward movement and potentially the formation of weather phenomena like thunderheads and hurricanes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When warm air is lifted higher than the cold air, it rises due to being less dense as a result of expansion. This phenomenon contributes to the creation of a buoyant force that acts on the warm air, causing it to move upward. This is a key mechanism in atmospheric convection and is instrumental in the formation of weather events such as thunderheads and hurricanes.
As the warm air ascends, it reaches higher altitudes where the temperature is lower, leading to the condensation of water vapor, which releases heat and further encourages the rising motion in a process known as positive feedback. This can result in the generation of large, powerful clouds and sometimes lead to violent storms with lightning and hail as more energy is released and the air continues to rise and cool.