cloud development and precipitation - I

Question 1

What is stability in the atmosphere?

Answer 1

the ability for the air to return to its origin after displacement

Question 2

What is a stable atmosphere?

Answer 2

returns to original position after displacement

Question 3

What is a neutral atmosphere?

Answer 3

remains in new position after being displaced

Question 4

What is an unstable atmosphere?

Answer 4

accelerates from its original position

Question 5

What is forced motion?

Answer 5

the push of air upwards

Question 6

What is buoyant motion?

Answer 6

air rising because it is less dense than its surroundings

Question 7

What is positive buoyancy?

Answer 7

when the temperature of the air parcel > temperature of the environment, density of the air parcel < density of the environment

Question 8

What is negative buoyancy?

Answer 8

when the temperature of the air parcel < temperature of the environment, density of the air parcel > density of the environment

Question 9

How do you solve for environment density?

Answer 9

pressure/(gas constant)(environment temperature)

Question 10

How do you solve for dry air parcel density?

Answer 10

pressure/(gas constant)(parcel temperature)

Question 11

When the temperature of an air parcel > temperature of the surrounding environment, the atmosphere is …

Answer 11

unstable (linked with positive buoyancy)

Question 12

When the temperature of an air parcel < temperature of the surrounding environment, the atmosphere is …

Answer 12

stable (linked with negative buoyancy)

Question 13

When the temperature of an air parcel = temperature of the surrounding environment, the atmosphere is …

Answer 13

neutral

Question 14

What is lapse rate?

Answer 14

the rate of temperature decrease with height (- temperature difference/height difference)

Question 15

What is environmental lapse rate?

Answer 15

the rate at which the surrounding air temperature decreases with altitude

Question 16

What is parcel lapse rate?

Answer 16

an air parcel’s change in temperature when it is displaced vertically

Question 17

What is the adiabatic process?

Answer 17

when an air parcel does not have any heat exchange with the environment when it is vertically displaced

Question 18

What is dry adiabatic lapse rate?

Answer 18

the rate of temperature decrease of a rising unsaturated air parcel (10°C/km)

Question 19

Do rising saturated air parcels cool less or more than rising unsaturated air parcels?

Answer 19

cool less

Question 20

What is moist adiabatic lapse rate?

Answer 20

the cooling rate for moist air parcels (4°C/km near ground, 6-7°C/km lower-mid troposphere)

Question 21

What condition creates an absolutely stable atmosphere?

Answer 21

environment lapse rate > moist adiabatic lapse rate

Question 22

What condition creates a conditionally unstable atmosphere?

Answer 22

dry adiabatic lapse rate < environment lapse rate < moist adiabatic lapse rate

Question 23

What condition creates an absolutely unstable atmosphere?

Answer 23

environment lapse rate < dry adiabatic lapse rate

Question 24

How are active clouds formed?

Answer 24

formed in unstable air, warm air with positive buoyancy is pushed upwards

Question 25

How are passive clouds formed?

Answer 25

formed in stable air, through lifting and radiative cooling