Atmospheric processes of the water cycle

Question 1

The water balance

Answer 1

Summaries the flows of water in a drainage basin over time

Precipitation (P) = Evapotranspiration (E)+ Streamflow (Q)+/- Storage

Question 2

Flows

Answer 2

Precipitation, Evaporation, Transpiration, run-off, infiltration, percolation, throughflow

Question 3

Precipitation

Answer 3

Water and ice that falls from the clouds towards the ground
Precipitation forms when vapour in the atmosphere cools to its dew point and condenses into tiny water droplets or ice particles to from clouds

Question 4

What is dew point

Answer 4

the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.

Question 5

Prolonged events, like depressions and frontal systems, may

Answer 5

deposit exceptional amounts of precipitation, this may lead to flooding

Question 6

Transpiration

Answer 6

Diffusion of water vapour to the atmosphere from stomata
10% of moisture in the atmosphere
Influenced by temperature and wind speed
Influenced by water availability to plants

Question 7

Condensation

Answer 7

Change of vapour to liquid
Occurs as water cools to its dew point
At this point air becomes saturated with vapour resulting in condensation
Clouds form through condensation in the attmosphere

Question 8

Cumuliform clouds

Answer 8

Flat bases
Considerable vertical development
Form when the air is heated locally through contact with the Earths surface
The heated air parcels rise freely in the atmosphere, expand and cool

Question 9

Stratiform clouds

Answer 9

Layer clouds

Develop where an air mass moves horizontally across a cooler surface - advection

Question 10

Cirrus clouds

Answer 10

Wispy clouds
Form at high altitudes
Consist of tiny ice crystals
Do not produce precipitation

Question 11

Cloud formation and lapse rates

Answer 11

Cooling occurs when
Air warmed by contact with the ground or sea surfaces, rises freely through the atmosphere and pressure falls it cools by expansion
Air masses move horizontally across a relatively cooler surface
Air masses move horizontally across a relatively cooler surface
Air masses rise as they cross a mountain barrier or as turbulence forces their ascent

Question 12

What are Lapses rates

Answer 12

The vertical distribution of temperature in the lower atmosphere, and temperature changes that occur within an air parcel as it rises vertically away from the ground

Question 13

What is DALR

Answer 13

Rate at which a dry parcel of air cools - 10 degrees c/km

Question 14

What is SALR

Answer 14

Rate at which a saturated parcel of air cools 7 degrees C/km

Question 15

What is FALR

Answer 15

The same as the DALR

Question 16

Environmental lapse rate

Answer 16

The vertical temperature profiles of the lower atmosphere at any given time