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Physical Geography > Chapter 6- Atmospheric Moisture > Flashcards

Chapter 6- Atmospheric Moisture Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the five types of latent heat?

A 
Melting
Fusion
Vaporization
Condensation 
Evaporation
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2
Q

What is evapotranspiration?

A

The combined process of water vapor entering the air from land sources

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3
Q

What is potential evapotranspiration?

A

The amount of evapotranspiration that could occur if the ground in that location was always sopping wet

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4
Q

How can you determine whether or not the climate is dry using PET?

A

If the annual precipitation is greater than the potential evapotranspiration there is a water surplus and visa versa

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5
Q

What is specific humidity?

A

The mass of water vapor in a given mass of air

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6
Q

How can you change specific humidity?

A

Change the quantity of water

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7
Q

What is absolute humidity?

A

The mass of water vapor in a given volume of air

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8
Q

How can you change absolute humidity?

A

Change the volume of air

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9
Q

What is vapor pressure?

A

The contribution of water vapor to the total pressure of the atmosphere

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10
Q

What is saturation vapor pressure?

A

The maximum vapor pressure at a given temperature

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11
Q

What is vapor content?

A

????

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12
Q

What is vapor capacity?

A

The maximum amount of water vapor that air can contain at a given temperature

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13
Q

What is dew point?

A

The temperature to which air must cool in order to saturate

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14
Q

What is sensible temperature?

A

The temperature that a persons body feels

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15
Q

What are the adiabatic lapse rates?

A

Dry: 10 C per 1000 m
Saturated: 6 C per 1000 m

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16
Q

Why is the saturated adiabatic lapse rate slower than the dry rates?

A

Release of latent heat during saturated rate

17
Q

Name the cloud forms and families

A 
High
 Cirriform
Middle
 Cumuliform
 Stratiform 
Low 
 Stratiform
Vertical
 Cumuliform
18
Q

Name four types of fog and how they form

A

Radiation: ground radiates away heat
Advection fog: warm moist air moves horizontally over a cold surface
Upslope: adiabatic cooling when humid air climbs a topographic slope
Evaporation: water vapor is added to cold air that is already near saturation

19
Q

What is atmospheric stability?

A

If a parcel of air resists uplift

20
Q

What is atmospheric instability?

A

Air rises without any external force other than the buoyant force or if it continues to rise after such an external force has ended

21
Q

What is conditional stability?

A

A parcel is same temperature or cooler than the surrounding air so it is stable. If it is forced to rise above the lifting condensation level the release of latent heat during condensation may warm the air enough to make the parcel unstable. It will then rise until it reaches an altitude where the surrounding air has density and temperature similar to its own

22
Q

How can you check for stability?

A

Compare adiabatic lapse rates to environmental lapse rates
Adiabatic cooler= stable
Or use cloud pattern in the same way

23
Q

What is the collision/ coalescence process of precipitation formation?

A

In warm clouds rain is produced by the collision and coalescence (merging) of water droplets

24
Q

What is the Bergeron process of precipitation formation?

A

In Cool clouds saturation vapor pressure is lower around the ice than the liquid droplets. The ice crystals attract most of the water vapor and the liquid evaporate replenishing the supply of vapor until the crystals are large enough to fall

25
Q

The Bergeron process is also called what?

A

Ice-Crystal Formation

26
Q

What are the main types of precipitation we discussed in class?

A 
Rain
Snow
Sleet
Glaze
Hail
Virga
27
Q

How does hail form?

A

Cumulonimbus clouds as a result of great instability and strong updrafts and downdrafts. Gathers ice and goes up until too heavy. Goes down and gathers moisture. Cycle

28
Q

What are the four main lifting mechanisms in the atmosphere?

A

Convective: unequal heating
Orographic: topographical barrier
Frontal: warm air meets cool air
Convergent: convergence of air of equal temps

29
Q

What two acids are the main components of acid rain?

A

Sulfuric and nitric acid

30
Q

What is the average pH for rain?

A

About 5.6

Physical Geography (4 decks)

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