METEOROLOGY: CLOUD PHYSICS Flashcards
is the study of the physical processes that lead to the formation, growth and precipitation of atmospheric clouds
Cloud Physics
is a puffy thing in the sky which is a mass of water drops or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
Cloud
TYPES OF CLOUDS
LOW-LEVEL CLOUDS
MIDDLE-LEVEL CLOUDS
HIGH-LEVEL CLOUDS
VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT CLOUDS
LOW-LEVEL CLOUDS
STRATUS
STRATOCUMULUS
CUMULUS
CUMULONIMBUS
often look like thin, white sheets covering the whole sky
STRATUS
are patchy gray or white clouds that often have dark honey-comb
appearance.
STRATOCUMULUS
look like fluffy, white cotton balls in the sky
CUMULUS
grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky.
CUMULONIMBUS
MIDDLE-LEVEL CLOUDS
ALTOSTRATUS
ALTOCUMULUS
are gray or blue-gray clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets
ALTOSTRATUS
have several patchy white or gray
layers and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples.
ALTOCUMULUS
HIGH-LEVEL CLOUDS
CIRRUS
CIRROSTRATUS
CIRROCUMULUS
are delicate feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals.
CIRRUS
are thin, white clouds that cover the
whole sky like a veil.
CIRROSTRATUS
are thin, sometimes patchy, sheet-like clouds.
CIRROCUMULUS
VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT CLOUDS
NIMBOSTRATUS
are dark, gray clouds that seem
to fade into falling rain or snow
NIMBOSTRATUS
CLOUD FORMATION
EVAPORATION
CONVECTION
ADIABATIC COOLING
SATURATION
CONDENSATION
CLOUD GROWTH
PRECIPITATION
are large bodies of air with uniform temperature and humidity characteristics, formed over source regions with similar surface properties.
AIR MASSES
boundaries between contrasting air
masses with different temperature, humidity, and density properties, leading to dynamic atmospheric instability and cloud formation.
FRONTS
TYPES OF FRONTS
COLD FRONTS
WARM FRONTS
When warm air advances and rises over cooler air, leading to gradual cloud development and precipitation.
WARM FRONTS
When cold air advances and displaces warm air, leading to rapid uplift, condensation, and the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and severe weather
COLD FRONTS
