Chapter 12- Air Masses And Weather (water In The Atmosphere, Clouds and Rainfall)

Question 1

What is the water cycle?

Answer 1

The process by which water moves between land, sea and atmosphere.

Question 2

What is the function of the water cycle?

Answer 2

To clean and renew the water

Question 3

What are the four stages of the water cycle?

Answer 3

Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Run-off

Question 4

Explain the process of evaporation.

Answer 4

The heat of the sun changes water into water vapour

The water vapour rises

Question 5

Explain the process of condensation.

Answer 5

As water vapour rises it cools to form clouds (tiny droplets)

Question 6

Explain the prices of precipitation.

Answer 6

Wind blows the cloud over land
The clouds cool further
Rain forms and falls
(Precipitation-rain, snow or hail)

Question 7

Explain the process of run-off.

Answer 7

Some water forms rivers and flows back to the sea

Some soaks into the land and goes back to the sea

Question 8

Define water vapour.

Answer 8

Moisture in the form of gas in the air

Question 9

What is relative humidity?

Answer 9

The percentage of water vapour in the air
-the actual website after content of the air as a percentage of the full amount of water the air could hold at a given temperature

Question 10

How are cloud formed?

Answer 10

When water vapour is condensed into tiny droplets of water or ice crystals.

Question 11

What are clouds?

Answer 11

Visible collections of water droplets or ice crystals

Question 12

Name 3 types of cloud.

Answer 12

Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus

Question 13

State 3 facts about cirrus clouds

Answer 13

Wispy
High altitude
Indicate fair weather

Question 14

State 3 facts about cumulus clouds

Answer 14

Woolly
Sometimes bring rain
Medium altitude

Question 15

State 3 facts about stratus clouds

Answer 15

Dark layers of cloud
Bring rain or drizzle
Low altitude

Question 16

Name 3 types of rainfall

Answer 16

Relief
Cyclonic
Conventional

Question 17

Describe the process of relief rainfall

Answer 17

Warm moist air blown in from sea
Air forced to rise over mountains
Air cools, condensation occurs and rain falls (on windward side)
Air has lost most of it moisture, air sinks and warms, so there is less rain
A rain shadow is created on the leeward side of a mountain which receives less rain

Question 18

Describe the process of cyclonic rainfall

Answer 18

Two air masses meet (one warm, one cold)
The warm, moist air is forced to rise over the cold air
The warm air cools, condensation occurs and rain falls

Question 19

Describe the process of convectional rainfall

Answer 19

Ground is warmed by the sun
Air warmed by the ground rises
Warm air cools, condensation occurs and rain falls

Question 20

Define precipitation

Answer 20

Water vapour when it is formed into rain, hail, sleet or snow

Question 21

What is a rain shadow

Answer 21

An area in the sheltered or leeward Sid elf mountains that receives less rain than the windward side