Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Earth Science ESU > Chapter 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation > Flashcards

Chapter 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

The three states of matter in water

A
  1. Solid (ice)
  2. Liquid (water)
  3. Gas (water vapor)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

When water changes states, what happens to the heat?

A

It is Absorbed or Released

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How is heat energy measured?

A
  • In calories.

1 calorie is the heat necessary to raise temp

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is latent heat?

A

*Stored or hidden heat

when water changes, heat exchanges between water and its surroundings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The process where liquid water is changed into gas (water vapor) is called what?

A

Evaporation

“latent heat of vaporization”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The process where water vapor (gas) is changed to liquid water is called what?

A

Condensation

“latent heat of condensation”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The process where solid ice is changed to liquid water is called what?

A

Melting

“latent heat of melting”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The process of water being changed to a solid (ice) is called what?

A

Freezing

“latent heat of fusion”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The process of a solid changing directly to a gas is called what?

A

Sublimation

EX: ice cubes shrinking in freezer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When water vapor is deposited into ice is is called what?

A

Deposition

Water vapor (gas) is changed directly to a solid 
EX: frost is a freezer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Humidity is what?

A

The amount of water vapor in the air.

Saturated air is air filled with water vapor to callosity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Relative Humidity (R.H.)

A

Capacity is temp dependent

Water vapor adds pressure to the air- this is called vapor pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Condensation (dew) occurs when?

A

When water vapor is changed to a liquid.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Adiabatic temperature occurs when?

A
  1. Air is compressed.
    * Air will warm as it is compressed (EX: pumping up bike tire)
  2. Air expands.
    * Air will cool as it expands (EX: air escaping bike tire)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The four processes that Lift air are?

A
  1. Orographic Lifting
  2. Frontal Wedging
  3. Convergence
  4. Localized Convective Lifting
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is Orographic Lift?

A

Elevated terrains act as barriers to the flow of air & force air to rise up.

EX: Atacama Dessert in Chile..driest place in the world

17
Q

What is Frontal Wedging?

A

Masses of warm & cold air collide to produce a front.

Where cooler, dense air acts as a barrier to warm air and forces it to rise

18
Q

What is Convergence?

A

Air flowing together int he lower atmosphere.

Converges and rises as a result in contrasting air masses that are forced to rise.

19
Q

What is Localized Convective Lifting?

A

Occurs when unequal surface heating causes pockets of air to rise

20
Q

Air Stability depends on?

A
  • Type of clouds that develop

* Intensity of the precipitation

21
Q

What is Stable Air?

A
  • Resists vertical displacement
  • Cooler than surrounding air
  • Denser than surround air wants to sink
22
Q

Water vapor in the air changes to a liquid and forms dew, fog, or clouds is called what?

A

Condensation

23
Q

Condensation surfaces in the atmosphere are called what?

A 
Condensation nuclei:
dust
smoke
salt crystals
ect.
24
Q

Visible aggregates of millions of minute of minute droplets of water or tiny ice crystals, are called what?

A

Clouds!

25
Q

Two cloud classifications based on form and height?

A
  1. Form:

2. Height in the Atmosphere

26
Q

Form in clouds contain what?

A
  • Cirrus- high, white, thin clouds

* Cumulus- cloud masses associated w/ fair weather

27
Q

Height in the Atmosphere have what type of clouds?

A
  • High clouds- all made of ice crystals
  • Middle clouds- has “alto” prefix
  • Low clouds- below 2,000 meters
28
Q

What type of clouds produce rain showers and thunderstorms?

A

Cumulonimbus

29
Q

What is the Collision- Coalescence Process?

A

**Droplets collide and coalesce w/ other droplets

  • Warm clouds
  • fewer, larger condensation nuclei are present, this allows large droplets to form.
30
Q

What is rain and drizzle?

A

Rain- droplets are at least 0.5 mill

Drizzle- droplets are less than 0.5 mill

31
Q

What is snow?

A

Precip. falling in a form of ice crystals or aggregates of ice crystals

32
Q

What is Sleet vs. Glaze (aka freezing rain)?

A

Sleet- (wintertime phenomenon)
Occurs: warmer air overlies colder air.
Rain freezes as it falls to produce sleet

Glaze/ freezing rain-
impact w/ a solid surface causes freezing, but the water droplets are liquid as they fall.

33
Q

What is hail and how does it form?

A

Hail- hard, rounded pellets of irregular ice.

Formation:
occurs in large cumulonimbus clouds w/ violent updrafts & downdrafts
**Hail falls when ice pellets are too heavy

34
Q

What is the easiest form of precipitation to measure?

A

Rain with a rain gauge!

Earth Science ESU (24 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions