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MyMET > Stability and Cloud Formation > Flashcards

Stability and Cloud Formation Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 key risks associated with cloud development?

A

Risk of icing
Risk of turbulence
Risk of precipitation

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2
Q

What are the 5 initial causes of an air parcels vertical motion?

A 
Convection
Turbulence in the friction layer
Orographic lift
Convergence
Frontal lift
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3
Q

What is the ELR?

A

Environmental lapse rate, rate at which temperature changes with height

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4
Q

What is the ISA ELR?

A

-2 degrees per 1000ft/-6.5 degrees per 1km

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5
Q

How is the ELR measured?

A

Radiosonde

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6
Q

What is adiabatic cooling?

A

As a parcel of air rises it enters low pressure

The parcel of air will expand resulting in a loss of temperature

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7
Q

What is adiabatic warming?

A

When a parcel of air sinks it enters high pressure

The parcel of air compresses resulting in an increase in temperature

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8
Q

What is the DALR?

A

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

-3 degrees per 1000ft/-1 degree per 100m

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9
Q

What happens when a parcel of air reaches 100% RH?

A

Condensation occurs, latent heat is released which effects the rate of cooling

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10
Q

What is the SALR?

A

Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate

-1.8 degrees per 1000ft/-0.6 degrees per 100m

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11
Q

Why is the SALR less than the DALR?

A

Due to latent heat released during condensation

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12
Q

When do you get an absolutely stable atmosphere?

A

When the DALR>SALR>ELR

Air does not rise buoyantly

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13
Q

What is the strength of turbulence in absolute stability?

A

Nil/light

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14
Q

What is the strength of icing in absolute stability?

A

Light to moderate rime ice

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15
Q

What is the visibility in absolute stability?

A

Poor

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16
Q

What is the strength of convection in absolute stability?

A

None

17
Q

What type of clouds are found in absolute stability?

A

Stratus
Nimbostratus
Altostratus

18
Q

When do you get absolute instability?

A

ELR>DALR>SALR

Air rises buoyantly

19
Q

What kind of precipitation do you get in absolute instability?

A

Storms, showers, potential microburst, hail

20
Q

What strength of turbulence do you get in absolute instability?

A

Moderate to severe

21
Q

What is the visibility in absolute instability?

A

Good, reducing in showers

22
Q

What is the strength of icing in absolute instability?

A

Severe clear ice, mixed ice and rime ice in higher cloud

23
Q

What type of clouds are found in absolute instability?

A 
Cumulus
Towering cumulus (congestus)
Cumulonimbus
Stratocumulus
Altocumulus
24
Q

What is conditional instability?

A

DALR>ELR>SALR
Unsaturated air does not rise buoyantly
Saturated air rises buoyantly

25
Q

What are the 4 causes of cloud dispersal?

A
  1. Warming through subsidence (adiabatic warming)
  2. Warming through absorbing solar or terrestrial radiation
  3. Reduced convective activity (reduced buoyancy)
  4. Mixing unsaturated air outside of cloud

MyMET (22 decks)

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