Met - Clouds & Precip

Question 1

Clouds need three things to form:

Answer 1

1. High moisture content
2. Condensation nuclei
3. Narrow temperature/dewpoint spread (so cooling or adding moisture will work)
4. A lifting agent

Question 2

Define Dew Point

Answer 2

The atmospheric temperature below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form. Clouds become visible.

Question 3

What are some examples of lifting agents?

Answer 3

Fronts (the frontal slope acts like a wedge)

convergence (air flowing into a low)

orographic (Air moving up a physical slope such as a mountain)

convection (heated air rising)

Question 4

Clouds come in 2 basic forms:

Answer 4

Stratoform & cumuliform

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a Stratoform cloud?

Answer 5

It’s a layer type cloud that forms in stable air

Question 6

What are the characteristics of a cumuliform cloud?

Answer 6

A puffy cloud that forms an unstable air.

Question 7

Compare the precipitation type between stratiform and cumuliform clouds.

Answer 7

Strato form = constant precipitation

Cumuliform = showery, localized precipitation

Question 8

Cloud classification by height

Answer 8

High 20,000’+ Cirrus or Ciro

Middle 6,500’ - 20,000’ Alto

Low 0 - 6,500’

Vertical development clouds