Clouds/Fog

Question 1

clouds

Answer 1

visible mass of concentrated water droplets or ice crystals
- each droplet forms around a nuclei of dust, salt, volcanic ash, pollen, etc

Question 2

what are the main cloud types?

Answer 2

stratus, cumulus, and cirrus

Question 3

stratus

Answer 3

• grey, sheet-like appearance
• horizontal development
• overcast skies
• gradual lifting (e.g. warm front)

Question 4

cumulus

Answer 4

• vertically developed
• classic summer fair weather clouds (convective lifting)
• cold front (strong, rapid lifting)
• post cold front (cold air, ground still warm)

Question 5

cirrus

Answer 5

• highest clouds (above 20k ft)
• all ice crystals
• strong winds spread crystals (thin, wispy)

Question 6

how does cloud classification work?

Answer 6

• general form (stratus, cumulus, cirrus)
• altitude or elevation
• combine types
• nimbus or alto

Question 7

nimbus

Answer 7

rain-bearing

Question 8

alto

Answer 8

mid-level

Question 9

fog

Answer 9

when a cloud forms at ground level

Question 10

radiation in terms of fog development

Answer 10

• heat radiation from the surface at night, cools the bottom air until it reaches saturation
• further traditional cooling at top of fog layer, deepens it
• fog form at surface, thickening as cooling continues

Question 11

advection in terms of fog development

Answer 11

• horizontally moving fog
• passes over cold water, which condenses warm air mass
• coastal phenomenon

Question 12

orogrpahic fog development

Answer 12

stratus or cumulus cloud on mountain

Question 13

steam

Answer 13

cold air mass sitting over warm body of water
- evaporation into an air mass that’s already at dew point, then immediate recondensation