While "drafts" are the phenomena, these essential instruments measure the variables that cause them: Thunderstorm Ingredients

: Drafts occur when a mass of air is a different temperature than the air surrounding it.

: For accurate readings, meteorological sensors (like precipitation discrimination sensors) are typically mounted 10 feet above the ground.

: Pilots rely on reports like METARs and TAFs to identify hazardous drafts and wind shear before takeoff. Common Meteorological Tools

Vertical drafts are essential components of atmospheric convection and storm development.

: Severe storms are often defined by the interaction between updrafts and downdrafts; wind shear can tilt a storm, separating these two drafts to allow the storm to sustain itself longer.