Atmosphere and Weather: Weather processes and phenomena

Question 1

Factors affecting evaporation (3)

Answer 1

Initial humidity of the air, supply of heat, wind strength

Question 2

Factors affecting condensation (3)

Answer 2

Radiation cooling of the air, contact cooling of the air when it rests over a cold surface, ADIABATIC (expansive) cooling of air (condensation nuclei required)

Question 3

Freezing

Answer 3

Change of liquid water into a solid once the temperature falls below 0.

Question 4

Melting

Answer 4

Change from a solid to a liquid when the air temperature rises above 0.

Question 5

Sublimation

Answer 5

The conversion of a solid into a vapour with no intermediate liquid state (also used to describe the direct deposition of water vapour onto ice)

Question 6

Precipitation

Answer 6

Refers to all forms of deposition of moisture from the atmosphere in either solid or liquid states - rain, hail, snow, and dew

Question 7

Three types of rainfall

Answer 7

Convectional, frontal, orographic

Question 8

Rain

Answer 8

Refers to liquid drops of water with a diameter of between 0.5mm and 5mm

Question 9

Hail

Answer 9

Alternate concentric rings of clear and opaque ice, formed by raindrops being carried up and down in vertical air currents in large cumulonimbus clouds.

Question 10

Snow

Answer 10

Frozen precipitation - snow crystals form when the temperature is below freezing and water vapour is overrated into a solid.

Question 11

Dew

Answer 11

Direct deposition of water droplets onto a surface.

Question 12

Fog

Answer 12

Cloud at ground level

Question 13

Radiation fog + ideal conditions

Answer 13

The surface of the ground, cooled rapidly at night by radiation, cools the air immediately above it. This air then flows into hollows by gravity and is cooled to dew point. Ideal conditions include a surface layer of moist air and clear skies, which allow rapid radiation cooling.

Question 14

Advection fog

Answer 14

Formed when warm moist air flows horizontally over a cooler land or sea surface.Cold air blows over much warmer water. Evaporation from the water quickly saturates the air and the resulting condensation leads to steaming.