11. Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Flashcards
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
The type of precipitation depends on the type of CLOUD or WIND, and in particular the strenght of the UPDRAFTS or DOWNDRAFTS within the clouds
- CLOUDS
- UPDRAFT
1
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Fairly uniform precipitation of very find drops of water very close to one another that falls from cloud. A diameter of 0.5mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
DRIZZLE
(DZ)
1
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Drizzle where the temperature of drops is below 0℃. May freeze on impact with the ground, in-flight aircraft or other objects.”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SUPERCOOLED DRIZZLE (FREEZING DRIZZLE)
(FZDZ)
1
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation of drops of water that falls from a cloud. A diameter of 0.5 to 5.8mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
RAIN
(RA)
2
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Rain where the temperature of drops is below 0℃. May freeze on impact with the ground, in-flight aircraft ot other objects”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SUPERCOOLED RAIN (FREEZING RAIN)
(FZRA)
2
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
What is the diameter range of RAIN
0.5mm to 5.8mm
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation of ice crystals, singly or stuck together, that falls from a cloud. Size and concentration of crystals (grains, needles, flakes) differ according to temperature and supersaturation at which they develop. At temperatures warmer than -5℃ the crystlas generally stick together for form snowflakes”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SNOW
(SN)
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Above what temperature will SNOW (SN) generally stick together to form snowflakes
-5℃
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation of very small opaque white particles of ice that falls from a cloud. These particles are faily flat or elongated. Their diameter is generally less than 1mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SNOW GRAINS
(SG)
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
The diameter of SNOW GRAINS (SG) is generally less than what
1mm
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW GRAINS (SG) fall mostly from what cloud type
STRATUS or FOG
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Preiciptation of white and opaque ice particles that falls from a cloud. These particles are generally conical or rounded, and their diameter may be as large as 5mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SNOW PELLETS
(GS)
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW PELLETS (GS) diameter may be as large as how much
5mm
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW GRAINS (SG) or SNOW PELLETS (GS) usually bounce when they hit the ground
SNOW PELLETS
(GS)
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW GRAINS (SG) or SNOW PELLETS (GS) are formed of a central nucleaus covered with frozen cloud droplets
SNOW PELLETS
(GS)
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
- Showers of SNOW PELLETS (GS) fall from what 2 cloud types
- Showers usually consist of snow pellets and snow flakes together and normally occur when the temperatures near the surface are close to ____℃
- CUMULUS
- CUMULONIMBUS
- 0℃
3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation of particles of ice (stones). These can be either transparent, or partly or completely opaque. They are usually spherodial, conical or irregular in form, and generally 5-50mm in diameter. The particles may fall from a cloud either separately or agglomerated in irregular lumps”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
HAIL
(GR)
4
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
HAIL (GR) pellets are generally between what diameter
5 - 50mm
4
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Hail is generally observed during what weather condition
HEAVY THUNDERSTORM
4
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW PELLETS (GS) or HAIL (GR) are formed of a nucleus that may not be at their geometric center
HAIL
(GR)
4
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
An “onion skn” or layered formation of pellet is associated with what precipitation type
HAIL
(GR)
4
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
HAIL (GR) is associated with only what cloud type
CUMULONIMBUS
12
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
The density of hailstones is typically between ____g/cm^3 and ____g/cm^3
0.85 to 0.92 g/cm^3
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“precipitation of translucent ice particles that falls from a cloud. These particles are almost always spherical and sometimes have conical tips. Their diameter may approach and even exceed 5mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
SMALL HAIL
(GS)
5
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Small hail always occurs in showers from what cloud type
CUMULONIMBUS
5
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
The density of small hail ranges from ____g/cm^3 to ____g/cm^3
0.8 to 0.99 g/cm^3
5
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
SNOW GRAINS (GS) or SMALL HAIL (GS) are not easily crushable and will bounce when they hit hard ground
SMALL HAIL
(GS)
- Snow grains are crushable and will not bounce when they hit the ground
5
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation of transparent ice particles that falls from a cloud. These particles are usually spheroidal or irregular, and rarely conical. Their diameter is less than 5mm”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
ICE PELLETS
(PL)
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
ICE PELLETS (PL) generally fall from which 2 cloud types
- ALTOSTRATUS
- NIMBOSTRATUS
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
ICE PELLETS (PL) originate as raindrops or snlowflakes that fall into a subcloud layer of WARM or COLD air first before then fall into a WARM or COLD layer of air
- WARM
- COLD
- Ice pellets originate as raindrops or snlowflakes
- They fall from altostratus or nimbostratus clouds
- They fall into a subcloud layer of warm air where snowflakes melt or partially melt
- They then fall into a cold layer of air (below 0℃) where they freeze and reach the ground as frozen precipitation
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
ICE PELLETS (PL) ARE or ARE NOT easily crushable ad DO or DO NOT bounce when they hit the ground
- ARE NOT
- DO BOUNCE
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
ICE PELLET (PL) density is usually above ____g/cm^3
0.92 g/cm^3
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
“Precipitation that falls from a clear sky in very smal ice crystlas, often so tiny that they appear to be suspended in the air”
This is a definition of what precipitation type
ICE CRYSTALS (DIAMOND DUST)
(IC)
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
DIAMOND DUST (IC) can be observed in polar and alpine regions and continental interiors in CLEAR AND CALM or CLOUDY AND WINDY cold weather
CLEAR AND CALM
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
DIAMOND DUST (IC) typically forms in temperatures less than ____℃
-10℃
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
What type of preipitation can produce halo phenomena as they sparkle in sunlight
ICE CRYSTALS (DIAMOND DUST)
(IC)
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Visibility in DIAMOND DUST (IC) varies considerably, with the lower limit being greater than ____km
1 km
6
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
- The name given to the nuclei that water vapour needs to condense onto
- What are the 4 nuclei
- CONDENSATION NUCLEI
- SMOKE
- DUST
- ICE CRYSTAL
- SALT CRYSTAL
7
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
If the air is extremely clean without condensation nuclei being present, it is possible for the air to go beyond 100% relative humiditiy, sometimes reaching 400%. This condition is known as what
SUPERSATURDATED
7
Precipitation, Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Condensation can occur before saturation is reached when the nuclei (such as salt crystals) are said to be what
HYGROSCOPIC
7