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WO1 > Lesson 2: Clouds & Meteors > Flashcards

Lesson 2: Clouds & Meteors Flashcards

1
Q

Define Cloud

A

A Hydrometeor consisting of minute particles of liquid water or ice, or of both suspended, in the free air and usually not touching the ground.

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2
Q

Define Layer Cloud, and

What cloud form is a layer cloud?

A

A cloud which generally has significant horizontal extent but not great vertical extent.
Stratiform

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3
Q

What type of precipitation (continuous, showery, or intermittent) could come from layer clouds?

A

Could be either continuous or intermittent

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4
Q

How much turbulence and/or icing would usually be associated with a layer cloud?

A

Ranges from None to Moderate

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5
Q

Define Vertical Development Cloud, and

What cloud form is a vertical development cloud?

A

A cloud which has moderate or great vertical extent.

Cumuliform

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6
Q

How much turbulence and/or icing would be usually be associated with a vertical development cloud?

A

Moderate to Severe

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7
Q

What type of precipitation (continuous, showery, or intermittent) could come from cumuliform clouds?

A

Showery

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8
Q

What are the 3 basic cloud forms?

A

Stratiform
Cumuliform
Cirriform

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9
Q

Define Stratiform Cloud

A

Clouds composed of rolls or elements, sometimes uniform in structure and normally stretched out in layers.

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10
Q

Define Cumuliform Cloud

A

Clouds which are composed of individual elements or bases and tend to have large vertical extent.

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11
Q

Define Cirriform Cloud

A

Clouds which are found in the upper portions of the sky and are ALWAYS composed of ice crystals

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12
Q

Clouds other than cirriform clouds may be composed of ____________________________

A

ice crystals, water droplets, or a combination of both.

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13
Q

What is the height range for the low etage?

A

near sfc to 6500 ft

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14
Q

What is the height range for the middle (Alto) etage?

A

6600 to 19000 ft

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15
Q

What is the height range for the high etage?

A

20000 feet & abv

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16
Q

List the 14 cloud types reported in Canadian hourly wx reports. Name AND abbreviation.

A 
Stratus Fractus - SF
Stratus - ST
Nimbostratus - NS
Stratocumulus - SC
Cumulus Fractus - CF
Cumulus - CU
Towering Cumulus - TCU
Cumulonimbus - CB
Altostratus - AS
Altocumulus - AC
Altocumulus Castellanus - ACC
Cirrus - CI
Cirrostratus - CS
Cirrocumulus - CC
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17
Q

Which of the 14 cloud types belong to the LOW etage? (Answer written in abbreviations)

A

SF, ST, NS, SC, CF, CU, TCU, CB

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18
Q

Which of the 14 cloud types belong to the MIDDLE etage? (Answer written in abbreviations

A

AS, AC, ACC

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19
Q

Which of the 14 cloud types belong to the HIGH etage? (Answer written in abbreviations

A

CI, CS, CC

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20
Q

Define “Nimbus” / “Nimbo”

A

Giving or capable of giving precipitation

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21
Q

Define “Alto”

A

In the middle levels

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22
Q

Define “Fractus”

A

Broken up, Fragments

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23
Q

Define “Towering” or “Congestus”

A

Vertical Development

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24
Q

Define “Castellanus”

A

Turrets or Towers

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25
Q

Define “Floccus”

A

small cumuliform tufts, lower part ragged

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26
Q

Define “Lenticular”

A

Almond/lens/cigar shaped

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27
Q

Define “Mamma”

A

Pouchy, breast-like hangings on the underside of a cloud

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28
Q

Define “Virga”

A

Precipitation not reaching the ground

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29
Q

Describe Stratus Fractus

A

Grey colour cloud with diffuse irregular shreds.
Near sfc to 1500 ft - usually very low
100 to 1000 feet thick
Composed of Water droplets, ice crystals, and super-cooled water droplets
No precipitation

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30
Q

Describe Stratus

A

Light to medium grey colour uniform layer.
Resembles fog, but not resting on sfc.
Gives the sky a hazy appearance.
Often has a ragged base.
Near sfc to 1500 ft - usually in lower levels
100 to 3000 feet thick
Composed of Water droplets, ice crystals, and super-cooled water droplets
Drizzle, Freezing Drizzle, Snow Grains, Snow

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31
Q

Describe Nimbostratus

A

Very dense in a low diffuse rainy layer. Medium to dark grey in colour. Usually nearly uniform (little elementing), may be ragged. Feebly illuminated, seemingly from inside. Diffuse wet-looking base. Generally have SF or ST forming below in precipitation.
Near sfc to 6500 Ft, usually below 5000 ft.
4000 to 20000 feet
Composed of Water droplets, ice crystals, and super-cooled water droplets - usually top portions are ice crystals.
Rain, Snow, Ice Pellets, Freezing Rain

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32
Q

Describe Stratocumulus

A

Layer of patches of globular masses or rolls, with fairly large elements. Soft and grey with darker parts. Elements arranged in groups, lines, or waves, aligned in one or two directions.
Near sfc to 6500 feet
Up to 3000 feet thick
Water droplets and/or ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, mixture of water droplets and ice crystals RARE in SC.
Usually no precipitation. If any, light snow, light rain, light snow pellets if vertical development cloud embedded.

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33
Q

Describe Cumulus Fractus

A

White to light grey colour with dense centres. Ragged edges show constant change. Rounded shape, lacking the flat bases of CU. Appears white in the sun, and dark in bad weather.
Near sfc up to 2000 feet. Bad weather = usually very low
Small vertical extent, usually no more than 500ft
water droplets.
Nil precipitation.
Often forms below NS in precipitation.

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34
Q

Stratus Fractus abbreviation

A

SF

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35
Q

Stratus abbreviation

A

ST

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36
Q

Nimbostratus abbreviation

A

NS

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37
Q

Stratocumulus abbreviation

A

SC

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38
Q

Cumulus Fractus abbreviation

A

CF

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39
Q

Cumulus abbreviation

A

CU

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40
Q

Towering Cumulus abbreviation

A

TCU

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41
Q

Cumulonimbus abbreviation

A

CB

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42
Q

Altostratus abbreviation

A

AS

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43
Q

Altocumulus abbreviation

A

AC

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44
Q

Altocumulus Castellanus abbreviation

A

ACC

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45
Q

Cirrus abbreviation

A

CI

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46
Q

Cirrostratus abbreviation

A

CS

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47
Q

Cirrocumulus abbreviation

A

CC

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48
Q

Describe Cumulus

A

Dense clouds appearing white in the sun, but dark central portions overhead. Flat bases and rounded tops. Individual bases.
1000 to 6500 feet. Note that bases can be much higher in the summer and can become progressively higher as the afternoon goes on.
500 to 5000 feet thick
Water droplets, occasionally supercooled
Forms in the morning and dissipates in the evening
-SHSN or -SHRA

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49
Q

Describe Towering Cumulus

A

Dense clouds that appear white in the sun but dark overhead with flat bases. Considerable vertical development with a hard “cauliflower” outline
1500 to 6500 feet bases that can be much higher in summer.
5000 to 20000 feet thick
Water droplets, supercooled water droplets, ice crystals
SHRA, SHSN, SHPL, SN (snow pellets)
Distinguished from cumulus by heavy active tops or towers, and from cumulonimbus by absence of ice crystal structure of top.

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50
Q

Give the physical description of SF

A

Grey colour, diffuse irregular shreds

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51
Q

How high is SF usually found?

A

It is usually very low, near the surface up to 1500 feet.

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52
Q

How thick is SF?

A

100-1000 feet thick?

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53
Q

What is SF composed of?

A

Water droplets
Ice crystals
Super-cooled water droplets

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54
Q

How is SF formed?

A
  • The breaking up of stratus
  • formed in precipitation below AS or NS
  • the lifting and breaking up of fog
  • orographic lifting
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55
Q

What kind of precipitation is produced by SF?

A

None

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56
Q

Describe Cumulonimbus

A

Dark grey (almost black) from below. Very dense water portions. Cirriform head fairly diffuse, but more dense than most cirriform cloud. Turbulent with strong vertical currents resulting in great vertical developments. Upper parts are fibrous frequently in the form of an anvil. Base often very ragged and can be confused with NS.
1500 to 6500 feet
10000 to 40000 feet thick or greater
3 distinct regions - water droplets in lower portions, supercooled water droplets and ice crystals in middle levels (above freezing level), and ice crystals in the upper levels.
SHRA, SHSN, GR (hail), Snow Pellets, Ice Pellet Showers,
Can produce VIOLENT showers
LTNG (LTGCG, LTGCC, LTGIC) , Thunder, SVR TURB, LLWS, Microburst

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57
Q

Describe

A

TBA

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58
Q

What are the characteristics of ST?

A

A uniform layer that is light to medium grey. It resembles fog but doesn’t rest on the surface. It gives the sky a hazy appearance and often has a ragged base.

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59
Q

What height is ST usually at?

A

Near the surface to 1500ft

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60
Q

How thick can ST be?

A

100-3000 feet thick

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61
Q

What is ST composed of?

A

Water droplets
Super cooled water droplets
Ice crystals

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62
Q

How does ST form?

A
  • May form from SC
  • May be formed by a for layer lifting
  • orographic lifting
  • In precipitation
  • by merging of SF
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63
Q

What kind of precipitation does ST produce?

A

Drizzle or freezing drizzle
Snow grains
Snow

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64
Q

What are the characteristics of NS?

A

It is a very dens, low, diffuse layer that is medium to dark grey. It is a uniform layer with a diffuse, wet looking base that looks illuminated from the inside. Often, there are low SF or ST forming below.

65
Q

How high can NS be found?

A

Near surface to 6500 feet

66
Q

How thick is NS?

A

4000-20,000 feet thick

67
Q

What is NS composed of?

A

Water droplets
Super cooled water droplets
Ice crystals(usually in the top portions)

68
Q

How is NS formed?

A

When AS thickens and lowers
Evolving from SC and AC
Frontal lifting, convergence or orographic lift

69
Q

What kinds of precipitation are formed by NS?

A

Rain
Snow
Ice pellets
Freezing rain

70
Q

What are the characteristics of SC?

A

Layer or patches of globular masses or rolls that are fairly large. Soft and grey with some darker parts. Elements are arranged in groups, lines, or waves aligned in one or two directions

71
Q

What height are SC found at?

A

Near surface to 6500 feet

72
Q

How thick is SC?

A

Up to 3000 feet

73
Q

What is SC composed of?

A

Water droplets
Water droplets and ice crystals
Super cooled water droplets

74
Q

How is SC formed?

A

Spreading out of CU CB or TCU
May form from ST
May form from orographic list or mechanical turbulence

75
Q

What kinds of precipitation is produced by SC?

A

Usually none

Sometimes light rain, light snow, light snow pellets

76
Q

What are the characteristics of CF?

A

They are white to light grey colour with a dense centre and ragged edges showing constant change. It has a roundish shape, but no flat bottom and looks white in the sun but dark when of bad weather.

77
Q

What is the height of CF?

A

Near the surface to 2000 feet

78
Q

How thick is CF?

A

Up to 500 feet thick

79
Q

What is CF composed of?

A

Water droplets

80
Q

How is CF formed?

A

By the breaking up of other clouds by wind

Can be formed by thermal lifting orographic lifting

81
Q

What kind of precipitation does CF produce?

A

None

82
Q

What are the characteristics of CU?

A

Individual elements that are dense with a white, rounded top, and a dark, flat base.

83
Q

At what height is CU found?

A

1000-6500 feet. Higher in the summer and higher as an afternoon goes on.

84
Q

How thick is CU?

A

500-5000 ft

85
Q

What are CU composed of?

A

Water droplets

Super cooled water droplets

86
Q

How are CU formed?

A

Daytime heating
Orographic lifting
From CF

87
Q

What precipitation does CU produce?

A

Light showers of rain or snow.

88
Q

What are the characteristics of TCU?

A

A dense cloud with a flat base that appears white in the sun but dark overhead with considerable vertical development and a hard cauliflower outline.

89
Q

At what height can TCU be found?

A

1500-1600 feet high

90
Q

How thick are TCU?

A

5000-20,000 feet thick

91
Q

What are TCU composed of?

A

Water droplets
Super cooled water droplets
Ice crystals

92
Q

How is TCU formed?

A

Thermal, orographic, or frontal lifting

From further developing of CU

93
Q

What kind of precipitation does TCU produce?

A

Rain showers
Snow showers
Ice pellet showers
Snow pellets

94
Q

What are the characteristics of CB?

A

A very dark grey base with great vertical development. Very dense water portions and a ragged base. Upper parts of the cloud are fibrous and can form an anvil shape

95
Q

How high are CB found?

A

1500-6500 feet

96
Q

How thicker are CB?

A

10,000-40,000 feet thick

97
Q

What are CB composed of?

A

Water droplets
Super cooled water droplets
Ice crystals

98
Q

How is CB formed?

A

Thermal, orographic,or frontal lifting

Development of TCU

99
Q

What kind of precipitation does CB produce?

A 
Rain showers
Snow showers
Hail
Snow pellets
Ice pellet showers
100
Q

What are the characteristics of AS?

A

One uniform layer of a grey or bluish colour that makes the sun or moon look as though viewed through ground glass and does not produce a shadow.

101
Q

How high can AS be found?

A

6600-19,000 feet

102
Q

How thick are AS?

A

1000-10,000 feet thick

103
Q

What is AS composed of?

A

Water droplets
Water droplets and/or ice crystals
Super cooled water droplets

104
Q

How is AS formed?

A

From AC
Frontal lifting
Lifting due to convergence

105
Q

What types of precipitation does AS produce?

A

Rain or freezing rain
Snow
Ice pellets

106
Q

What are the characteristics of AC?

A

White or grey flattened globular masses with fairly small regularly arranged elements. Elements are arranged in lines, groups, or waves following one or two directions

107
Q

How high are AC found?

A

6600-19,000 feet

108
Q

How thick are AC?

A

100-3000 feet thick

109
Q

What are AC composed of?

A

Water droplets
Water droplets and/or ice crystals
Super cooled water droplets

110
Q

How are AC formed?

A

From AS
Spreading out of TCU or CB
Frontal lifting or lifting due to convergence

111
Q

What kind of precipitation do AC produce?

A

Usually none, but sometimes intermittent rain or snow

112
Q

What are the characteristics of ACC?

A

White to light grey with a common flat base. Have slight vertical development, resembling turrets of a castle.

113
Q

How high are ACC found?

A

6600-19,000 feet high

114
Q

How thick are ACC?

A

500-2000 feet thick

115
Q

What are ACC composed of?

A

Water droplets or ice crystals

116
Q

How are ACC formed?

A

Updrafts that are small in diameter

117
Q

What kind of precipitation do ACC produce?

A

Possible showers or dry microbursts. Virga very common.

118
Q

What are the characteristics of CI?

A

Pure white, fibrous filaments with a silky appearance. Look like they have tufts, hooks, and commas.

119
Q

How high are CI found?

A

20,000-40,000 feet

120
Q

How thick are CI?

A

300-1000 feet thick

121
Q

What are CI composed of?

A

Ice crystals

122
Q

How are CI formed?

A

By frontal overrunning or convergence

From tops of CB

123
Q

What kinds of precipitation are produced by CI?

A

None

124
Q

What are the characteristics of CS?

A

Pure white, continuous fibrous layer through which the outline of the sun or moon is clearly visible. Halo is common

125
Q

How high are CS found?

A

20,000-40,000 feet

126
Q

How thick is CS?

A

300-1000 feet

127
Q

What are CS composed of?

A

Mostly ice crystals

128
Q

How are CS formed?

A

Frontal overrunning or convergence

129
Q

What types of precipitation do CS produce?

A

None

130
Q

What are the characteristics of CC?

A

Pure white small globular masses arranged in groups or lines. Ripples described as sand on the seashore.

131
Q

How high are CC found?

A

20,000-40,000 feet

132
Q

How thick are CC?

A

100-700 feet thick

133
Q

What are CC composed of?

A

Ice crystals

Very rarely super cooled water droplets

134
Q

How are CC formed?

A

Turbulent overrunning air

Breaking up of CS

135
Q

What types of precipitation do CC produce?

A

None.

136
Q

What type of clouds give continuous or intermittent precipitation?

A

Layer clouds

137
Q

What type of clouds give showery precipitation?

A

Vertical development clouds

138
Q

What is the only cloud that can produce DZ or FZDZ, and Snow Grains?

A

Stratus

139
Q

Define Meteor

A

A phenomenon observed in the atmosphere or on the surface of the earth. It consists of a suspension, precipitation, or a deposit of aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or solid particles, or a phenomenon of the nature of an optical or electrical manifestation.

140
Q

Define Hydrometeor

A

A meteor consisting of an ensemble of liquid or solid water particles suspended in or falling through the atmosphere, blown by the wind from the earth’s surface, or deposited on objects on the ground or in the free air.

141
Q

Fog is an example of what type of meteor?

A

Hydrometeor

142
Q

Blowing Snow is an example of what type of meteor?

A

Hydrometeor

143
Q

Define Lithometeor

A

A meteor consisting of an ensemble of particles, most of which are solid and non-aqueous. The particles are more or less suspended in the air or lifted from the ground by the wind.

144
Q

Smoke is an example of what type of meteor?

A

Lithometeor

145
Q

Define Photometeor

A

A luminous phenomenon produced by the reflection, refraction, diffraction, or interference of light from the sun or moon.

146
Q

A Halo phenomena is an example of what type of meteor?

A

Photometeor

147
Q

Define Electrometeor

A

A visible or audible manifestation of the atmospheric electricity

148
Q

Name a Hydrometeor in Suspension (3 options)

A

Fog (FG)
Freezing Fog (FZFG)
Mist (BR)

149
Q

What is the difference between Fog and Mist? (FG vs BR)

A

Fog reduces visibility to 1/2 SM or less at the surface, whereas Mist reduces visibility to 5/8 to 6SM (inclusive)

150
Q

How can we tell the difference between Drizzle and Rain?

A

Drizzle drops are less than 0.5mm diameter, and are too small to make ripples on standing water (puddle, lake, etc.)

151
Q

Name a Hydrometeor as precipitation (4 options)

A

Drizzle, Rain, Freezing Drizzle, Freezing Rain

152
Q

Name a Hydrometeor as frozen precipitation (7 options)

A 
Snow (SN)
Snow Pellets (SHGS)
Snow Grains (SG)
Ice Pellets (PL)
Hail (SHGR)
Small Hail (SHGS)
Ice Crystals (IC)
153
Q

Name a Hydrometeor as particles raised by the wind (3 options)

A 
Blowing Snow (BLSN)
Drifting Snow (DRSN)
Spray
154
Q

Name a Lithometeor in suspension (4 options)

A

Haze (HZ)
Dust Haze (DU)
Smoke (FU)
Volcanic Ash (VA)

155
Q

Name a Lithometeor raised by the wind (7 options)

A 
Dust/Sand Whirls (PO)
Blowing Dust (BLDU)
Blowing Sand (BLSA)
Duststorm (DS)
Sandstorm (SS)
Drifting Dust (DRDU)
Drifting Sand (DRSA)
156
Q

Name a Photometeor (5 options)

A 
Halo phenomena
Corona (usually indicates AC)
Irisation
Glory
Rainbow
157
Q

Define the Photometeor “Glory”

A

One or more sequences of coloured rings seen by an observer around his own shadow on a cloud consisting mainly of numerous small water droplets, on fog, or rarely, dew.

158
Q

Name an Electrometeor (5 options)

A 
Thunderstorm
Lighting
Thunder
Saint Elmo's Fire
Aurora

WO1 (3 decks)

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