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Cpl/atpl Met > Cloud > Flashcards

Cloud Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the relationship between stability of air and cloud type in relation to poles AND equator

A

Air from the equator traveling poleward = stable/low cloud
•Because decreasing surface temperature cools it
•Air from the poles traveling to the equator = Unstable
•Because increasing surface temperature warms it

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2
Q

Describe the relationship between stability of air and cloud type (stable air)

A

Stable clouds = Cirrostratus, Altostratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus, Stratus

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3
Q

Describe the relationship between stability of air and cloud type (unstable)

A

Unstable clouds = Cirrocumulus, Altocumulus, Cumulonimbus, Towering Cumulus, Cumulus

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4
Q

List the vertical extents of the three main cloud layers in mid latitudes

A

Low cloud - below 7000
Middle cloud - 7-23,000ft
High cloud - 17,000-45000ft

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5
Q

List the vertical extents of the three main cloud layers in tropical latitudes

A

Low cloud - below 7000ft
Middle - 7000 - 25,000ft
High - 20,000 - 60,000ft

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6
Q

State the difference between the Lifting Condensation Level (LCL) and the Convective Condensation Level (CCL)

A

LCL = Height all non-convective cloud will form through forced lifting.
•Forced up by fronts, hills, turbulence, convergence

•CCL = Height convective cloud forms (thermals rising air mass)
•Raises temperature further away from dew point
•Therefore CCL is always higher than LCL

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7
Q

Demonstrate the use of simple formulae to calculate the LCL and CCL

A

CCL = 400 x (Surface Temp – Dew Point)

•LCL = 400 x (Surface Temp – Dew Point) x 0.85

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8
Q

Describe cirrus

A

White
•High level
•Fibrous hair-like cloud
•Narrow bands
•Stable
•Ice crystals

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9
Q

Describe cirrocumulus

A

White
•High level
•Sheet cloud
•Ripples
•Conditional instability
•Ice crystal

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10
Q

Describe cirrostratus

A

White
•High level
•Transparent
•Only cloud to create solar halo
•Stable
•Ice crystals

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11
Q

Describe altocumulus

A

White/grey
Middle level
Unstable
Droplets/ice crystals

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12
Q

Describe altostratus

A

Greyish/bluish
Middle level
Sun barely visible
Stable
Droplets/ice crystals

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13
Q

Nimbostratus

A

Grey/dark
Low level
Conditional instability
Droplets/snow/Supercooled water droplets
Thick

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14
Q

Nimbostratus

A

Often forms along warm or occluded fronts
Form through the deepening and thickening of an altostratus cloud

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15
Q

Describe stratocumulus

A

Grey/white
Low level
Rolled layer cloud
Stable
Droplets

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16
Q

Describe stratus

A

Grey
Low level
Layer cloud
Stable
Droplets

17
Q

Cumulus

A

White
Low level
Heaped cloud
Conditional instability

18
Q

Cumulonimbus

A

Very dark
Low level
Heaped cloud
Large vertical extent
Anvil on top
Unstable

19
Q

Describe conditions for each cloud in regards to 10 clouds (Ci, Cs, CC, AS, AC, NS, Sc, St, Cu, Cb) turbulence

A

Ci - nil
Cs - nil
CC - light
As - light/moderate
Ac - light/moderate
NS - moderate
Sc - light
St - nil
Cu - Moderate/severe
Cb - moderate/severe

20
Q

Describe conditions for each cloud in regards to 10 clouds (Ci, Cs, CC, AS, AC, NS, Sc, St, Cu, Cb)

Icing

A

Ci - nil, trace
Cs - nil, trace
CC - nil, trace
As - light
Ac - light
NS - moderate/severe
Sc - light/moderate
St - light
Cu - moderate
Cb - Moderate/severe

21
Q

Describe conditions for each cloud in regards to 10 clouds (Ci, Cs, CC, AS, AC, NS, Sc, St, Cu, Cb)

Precipitation

A

Ci - nil
Cs - nil
CC - nil
As - light/moderate
Ac - light/moderate
NS - heavy precipitation
Sc - drizzle/light
St - drizzle/light
Cu - heavy showers
Cb - heavy showers

22
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each Asperitas

A

Unstable
•Severe Turbulence
•Occurs within Altostratos and Stratocumulus
•Most likely cause is gust front

23
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each (mammatus)

A

Unstable
Severe turbulence
Forms under Cb

24
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each (altocumulus lenticularis)

A

Ragged edges indicate turbulence

•Formed from mountain waves above mountain height

25
Q

Ragged edges indicate turbulence
•Formed from mountain waves above mountain height

(Rotor cloud)

A

Forms under lenticular clouds

Strongest turbulence in first waves

26
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each

(Kelvin helmholtz waves)

A

Caused by vertical windshear

27
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each

(Altocumulus Castellanus)

A

Unstable
Cumuliform tops rising from a common base
Moderate turbulence

28
Q

Identify the following cloud sub-sets and outline the atmospheric conditions indicated by each (banner cloud)

A

Uplift of cloud on sheltered lee side

Reduced pressure downwind

29
Q

Explain cloud dispersal (direct warming)

A

Direct solar radiation disperses cloud from top down
•Terrestrial radiation increases surface temperature
•Moves dew point further away from temp dispersing cloud

30
Q

Explain cloud dispersal process: sinking of air

A

Air containing cloud sinks and so the cloud has more pressure thus warms due to Adiabatic warming, as parcel descends dew point remains constant but temp increases so Dew point moves away from temperature dispersing cloud.

31
Q

Explain cloud dispersal process: Mixing with clear air

A

Injects dry air (entrainment - mixing dry air with humid air), lower RH causes evaporation

32
Q

Describe the effect of latent heat release on stability inside a cloud and its influence on resulting cloud type (ATPL)

A

Releasing latent heat increases temperature
•Increases instability
•Results in cumuliform cloud or Cb

33
Q

With regard to orographically developed cloud, explain the influence of stability/instability and different surface dew point values on the type and vertical extent of any cloud form (ATPL)

A

Stable = Shallow vertical extent (stratus)
•Unstable = Deep vertical extent (cumulus)
•Closer dew point is to surface temp = lower cloud base

34
Q

With regard to orographically developed cloud, describe the formation and characteristics of lenticular cloud (ATPL)

A

Formed due to mountain waves
•Lens shaped clouds
•Found above mountain tops in crests of waves
•Can be found up to and above tropopause

Cpl/atpl Met (32 decks)

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