Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation Flashcards
What is humidity
measure of water vapor in the air
Relative humidity
amount of water vapor in the air relative to the amount the air can hold
Water condensation
clouds form when water vapor in the air condenses to form liquid water or ice
What is the temperature called at which condensation happens
dew point
What must be present in the sir in order for water vapor to condense
tiny particles
Where can water droplets and ice crystals form on
particles of dust salt smoke solids such as windows and grass
Liquid water that condenses is
dew
liquid ice that condenses is
frost
Types of clouds
cirrus
cumulus
stratus
Cirrus clouds are
thin and wispy, they form at high altitudes where temp. are low
Cirrus clouds are made of
ice crystals
Cirrocumulus clouds
are small and puffy and appear in rows
Cumulus clouds
are round and puffy
Where cumulus clouds form
close to the surface, only about 1-1.5 miles up
Cumulonimbus clouds can extend to
more than 10 miles up in the sky
Stratus clouds
large flat layers
are usually dull and gray in color
cover all or most of the sky
may drizzle, rain or snow
Fog
clouds that form near the ground
Sleet is
raindrops that freeze into ice pellets less than 5mm in diameter
Freezing rain
when touches a cold surface and freezes
Snow
ice crystals that fall from sky
Snowflakes form around
particles in atmosphere
Hail
ice more than 5mm in diameter
Hail forms in
cumulus clouds during thunderstorms
