Clouds and Precipitation

Question 1

When does a fog form?

Answer 1

Fog, which is condensed water vapor near the ground, forms when a low-level cloud of warm water vapor passes a cool area, such as a lake or valley.

Question 2

Cumulus clouds means…

Answer 2

“Lumpy.”

Question 3

Stratus clouds means…

Answer 3

“Layered.”

Question 4

Cirrus clouds means…

Answer 4

“Lock of hair.”

Question 5

The prefix Nimbus means…

Answer 5

“Rain cloud.”

Question 6

The prefix Fracto means…

Answer 6

“Fracture.”

Question 7

The prefix Alto means…

Answer 7

“High.”

Question 8

True or False: Cirrus clouds contain ice-crystals because the temperature are 0° or below that altitude.

Answer 8

TRUE

Question 9

True or False: The middle layers of clouds are generally stratus and cumulus clouds. These clouds usually form between 4,000m - 10,000.

Answer 9

FALSE

These clouds usually form between 2,000m - 8,000.

Question 10

True or False: Low-leveled clouds form below 2,000m.

Answer 10

TRUE

Question 11

True or False: Grey stratus cloud layers make the sky look heavy and ominous, and also produces storms.

Answer 11

FALSE

Grey stratus cloud layers make the sky look heavy and ominous, but they produce only a fine drizzle of rain.

Question 12

True or False: Some cumulonimbus clouds can produce violent tornados.

Answer 12

TRUE

Question 13

True or False: Clouds cannot affect both weather and climate.

Answer 13

FALSE

Clouds affect both weather and climate.

Question 14

True or False: For example, if a cubic meter of air is holding 16 grams of water vapor at a temperature with the potential to hold 20 grams of water vapor, then the relative humidity is 80% ([16 / 20] * 100 = 80%). The air is holding 80% of what it can hold.

Answer 14

TRUE

Question 15

Coalescence is…

Answer 15

Coalescence is the process of water droplets joining other droplets to form big enough to fall.

Question 16

True or False: A water droplet must be at least 0.3 cm in diameter to be considered enough to be a droplet.

Answer 16

FALSE

A water droplet must be at least 0.5 cm in diameter to be considered enough to be a droplet.

Question 17

True or False: Rain may begin as a frozen crystal in high, cold clouds or as small water droplets in lower, warm clouds.

Answer 17

FALSE

Rain may begin as a frozen crystal in high, cold clouds or as water vapor in lower, warm clouds.

Question 18

True or False: Sleet forms when precipitation falls through a layer of freezing air.

Answer 18

TRUE

Question 19

How does sleet form according to cold cloud theory?

Answer 19

According to cold cloud theory, it can start snow, then melt and refreeze.

Question 20

How does sleet form according to warm cloud theory?

Answer 20

According to warm cloud theory, it starts as rain, passes through a layer of freezing air, and freezes before it hits the ground.

Question 21

Freezing rain is…

Answer 21

If the rain does not freeze after passing a layer of freezing air, it is called freezing air

Question 22

True or False: Hail is the precipitation in the form of ice bumps. Hail forms when conduction currents carry rain droplets up to altitudes where they freeze.

Answer 22

FALSE

Hail is the precipitation in the form of ice bumps. Hail forms when convection currents carry rain droplets up to altitudes where they freeze.

Question 23

What are snowflakes?

Answer 23

Snow is made of ice particles that fall as small pellets, individual crystals, or a combination of crystals called snowflakes.

Question 24

What is snow?

Answer 24

In order for snow to form, the air must be saturated with water vapor at a temperature below 0°C. Snowflakes must pack together to form snow.

Question 25

True or False: Snowflakes become larger as the air becomes warmer.

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

What is Dew?

Answer 26

Dew forms when water vapor above the ground cools in the night air and condenses on the ground. The air temperature at which water vapor begins to condense is called the dew point.

Question 27

What is frost?

Answer 27

Frost is caused by deposition, which is the changing of a gas directly into solid. in the case of frost, water vapor becomes ice without first becoming liquid.

Question 28

Explain the difference between humidity and relative humidity.

Answer 28

The amount of water vapor in the air is called humidity. Humidity increases as more water molecules evaporate into the air. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared with the amount that the air can hold at that particular temperature.