Cloud Test Flashcards
Which gas is most influential on day-to-day weather changes
Water vapor, it is also the source of all sleet, snow, clouds, and rain
What percent of air, of volume does this gas occupy
0-4% volume
What is latent heat
It is the heat that is absorbed or released
What does it mean if air is saturated
Any new water vapor will cause old water vapor to condense
When air is saturated, which holds more water, cold or warm air
Warm air holds more water than cold air
What is relative humidity
The percentage of moisture the air holds relative to the amount it could hold
What are to ways relative humidity can be changed
By adding or removing water vapor or changing the air temperature
If water vapor content stays the same, if we lower air temperature will it increase or decrease relative humidity
It will increase relative humidity
What is the dew point
The dew point is when a parcel of air would need to be cooled to reach saturation
Will dew point of moist air be high or low
Higher
What is an example of a dew point
Dew on the grass in the morning
Will the dew point be high or low in dry air
Low
Explain how compressing and expanding air affects the motion of gas particles and therefore air temperature
Compressing air makes gas particles move faster which increases temperature, expanding air makes gas particles move slower which decrease temperature
Describe evaporation and is heat absorbed or released
Liquid to gas and heat is absorbed
Describe condensation and it heat absorbed or released
Gas to liquid and heat is released
Describe sublimation and it heat absorbed or released
Solid to gas and heat is absorbed
Describe deposition and it heat absorbed or released
Gas to solid and heat is released
Describe freezing and it heat absorbed or released
Liquid to solid heat it released
Describe melting and it heat absorbed or released
Solid to liquid heat is absorbed
What is an adiabatic temperature change
Temperature changes occur even though heat isn’t added or subtracted
Describe how adiabatic temperature changes affect temperature as we move away from the surface of the earth
As you move away from earth, atmospheric pressure decreases so air decreases, the air expands so the temperature will decrease
Why is there a difference between the dry adiabatic rate and the wet adiabatic rate
Dry is the rate of cooling or heating unsaturated air, it is be
bellow the condensation rate at 10degrees c || the wet has a slower rate of cooling because of latent heat it is above the condensation rate at 5degrees c
What is stable air
This air is forced to rise which creates a widespread of thin clouds and precipitation
What is unstable air
This is air that rises freely or has vertical movement
What is needed in order for a cloud to form
air often reaches saturation by cooling air to its dew point, it needs a surface for water vapor to condense on
What are two ways to classify a cloud
Shape and height
What is fog
It is a cloud with its base at or near the ground
How is fog formed
It is caused by warmer air moving over a cool surface, and also evaporation when cool air moves over warmer wet land
Describe the required increase of cloud droplets for precipitation
Cloud droplets are 20micrometers in size and they have to grow one million times bigger to fall to earth
