Clouds and Precipitation Flashcards
When does a fog form?
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.
Cumulus clouds means…
“Lumpy.”
Stratus clouds means…
“Layered.”
Cirrus clouds means…
“Lock of hair.”
The prefix Nimbus means…
“Rain cloud.”
The prefix Fracto means…
“Fracture.”
The prefix Alto means…
“High.”
True or False: Cirrus clouds contain ice-crystals because the temperature are 0° or below that altitude.
TRUE
True or False: The middle layers of clouds are generally stratus and cumulus clouds. These clouds usually form between 4,000m - 10,000.
FALSE
These clouds usually form between 2,000m - 8,000.
True or False: Low-leveled clouds form below 2,000m.
TRUE
True or False: Grey stratus cloud layers make the sky look heavy and ominous, and also produces storms.
FALSE
Grey stratus cloud layers make the sky look heavy and ominous, but they produce only a fine drizzle of rain.
True or False: Some cumulonimbus clouds can produce violent tornados.
TRUE
True or False: Clouds cannot affect both weather and climate.
FALSE
Clouds affect both weather and climate.
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.
TRUE
Coalescence is…
Coalescence is the process of water droplets joining other droplets to form big enough to fall.
True or False: A water droplet must be at least 0.3 cm in diameter to be considered enough to be a droplet.
FALSE
A water droplet must be at least 0.5 cm in diameter to be considered enough to be a droplet.
True or False: Rain may begin as a frozen crystal in high, cold clouds or as small water droplets in lower, warm clouds.
FALSE
Rain may begin as a frozen crystal in high, cold clouds or as water vapor in lower, warm clouds.
True or False: Sleet forms when precipitation falls through a layer of freezing air.
TRUE
How does sleet form according to cold cloud theory?
According to cold cloud theory, it can start snow, then melt and refreeze.
How does sleet form according to warm cloud theory?
According to warm cloud theory, it starts as rain, passes through a layer of freezing air, and freezes before it hits the ground.
Freezing rain is…
If the rain does not freeze after passing a layer of freezing air, it is called freezing air
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.
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.
What are snowflakes?
Snow is made of ice particles that fall as small pellets, individual crystals, or a combination of crystals called snowflakes.
What is snow?
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.
True or False: Snowflakes become larger as the air becomes warmer.
TRUE
What is Dew?
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.
What is frost?
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.
Explain the difference between humidity and relative humidity.
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.
