Clouds and Precipitation Flashcards
Clouds are classified into four families, what are they?
High, Middle, Low and Clouds of Vertical Development Base
What are the height ranges of the four cloud families?
High: 20 000 - 40 000ft
Middle 6500 - 20 000ft
Low: Surface to 6500 ft
Vertical development: Base at 1600ft
Which clouds have ice crystals?
High clouds
Which clouds have water droplets, ice crystals or a combination of both?
Middle clouds
Which clouds are associated with low ceilings, poor visibility may accompany precipitation?
Low clouds
What are the low cloud names?
ST, SC, NS, SF, CF
A very weak vertical current is needed to keep what kind of precipitation up?
Cloud droplet
A light vertical current is needed to keep what kind of precipitation up?
Drizzle drop
True or False?
The intensity of precipitation depends on the strength of the updraft within the cloud, the cloud’s vertical thickness and the water content.
True
Which type of clouds have the heaviest rainfall?
Convective clouds
Why is the vertical thickness of clouds important?
The air must be warm to hold lot of water vapour, only possible with low cloud base.
Ice crystals are required to produce precipitation, the cloud top must extend above freezing level.
What’s the difference between intermittent and continuous precipitation?
Intermittent must stop and recommence at least once during the hour.
Continuous must continue without a break for at least and hour.
What type of clouds does continuous precipitation fall from?
Layer clouds
What type of precipitation do showers falls from?
Cumuliform cloud, though they may be embedded in a layer cloud.
Strong orographic lift can cause strong updrafts. Will this result in heavier precipitation in the event of a convective cloud?
Yes
