CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION PROJECT

By: Erinne Finlayson

Adiabatic Temperature Change and Expansion and Cooling

When air expands it cools but when air is compressed it warms.

The dry adiabatic rate is when cooling and heating only affect unsaturated air.

Farther off the earths surface the less pressure.

http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0070-adiabatic-temperature-changes.php

Orographic Lifting

Mountains act like walls to air flow causing Orographic lifting.

Windward side of mountain will be rainy.

Leeward side will be dryer. http://www.examiner.com/outdoorsman-in-salt-lake-city/understanding-why-

utah-has-the-greatest-snow-on-earth-part-1-orographic-lifting

Frontal Wedging

Cool and warm air collide producing fronts.

Cooler air is more dense than warm air.

Cool air asks like a wall against warmer air.

http://www.harding.edu/lmurray/113_files/HTML/d2_Earth%20Revised/sld046.htm

Convergence

The different air masses force air to rise.

Convergence is when the lower atmosphere mix together.

Florida peninsula is a good example. http://keithrogershome.com/

Chap8Clds.html

Localized Convective Lifting Warmed air Warm parcles of air rise and form

condensation clouds. May cause rain showers.

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect14/Sect14_1c.html

Stability

Unstable air moves up Stable air dose not Unstable air= Thunderstorms maybe

even tornados

http://www.richhoffmanclass.com/chapter4.html

Condensation

Water vapor changes to liquid. (Gas to liquid)

Air must be saturated Results in dew, fog, or clouds. http://www.scottslumber.com/services/

window-condensation-are-my-windows-defective/

Types of Clouds

Clouds are formed by form and height.

Types Cirrus (curl of hair) is seen as a white

cloud. Cumulus (a pile) is seen as rounded

separate cloud masses. Cauliflower structure.

Stratus (a layer) seen as sheets or layers that cover most or all of the sky.

http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/current/ED101fa10/jenmks/

High Clouds

Found over 6,000 meters off of earths surface. Cirrus and Cirrostratus are two possible clouds

found as a high cloud. Warning of stormy weather coming. http://www.zastavki.com/eng/Nature/Clouds/wallpaper-14253.htm

Middle Clouds

Found around 2,000-6,000 meters off of earths surface.

These clouds are white or gray. They warn of a little snow or drizzle. http://acrosstheuniverse.forummotion.com/t862-i-ve-looked-at-clouds-from-

both-sides-now

Low Clouds

Seen as rainy clouds Located below 2,000 meters from the Earth’s

surface. Created when air is forced up. Stratus and Stratocumulus are some clouds

that can be found here. http://bmvgallery.com/tag/clouds/

Clouds and Vertical Development

Made up of unstable air These clouds cause showers and

thunderstorm. A upward movement is strong enough to give

many clouds a great vertical rang form. http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/

EarthSC102Notes/102Clouds.htm

Fog

Fog and clouds are the same thing, they are just created in different place.

Fog is the cooling or movement over something cold.

Fog is found very close to the ground. http://helicopterblog.com/?p=276

Cold Cloud Precipitation

It the ground is 0 degrees Celsius it must be at least -40 degrees Celsius in the clouds to create snow, hail, ext.

When ice crystals contact cloud drops they cause them to freeze.

Supper cold water will freeze if it impacts the ground.

http://nasasport.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/amsr-e-maps-rain-associated-with-irene/

Warm Cloud Precipitation

When water absorbing partials remove water vapor from air at relative humidity.

Salt can remove water vapor from the air. Tropics is an example of warm cloud

Precipitation http://hdwallpapersdesktop.com/wallpapers/2011/08/wallpaper-ocean-tropics-clouds-boat-

island-yacht-photo/wallpaper-ocean-tropics-clouds-boat-island-yacht-photo-2/

Rain and Snow

Rain- drops of water that falls from clouds. Must be a least .5mm.

Snow- made up of separate 6-sided crystals.

Warmer that -5 degrees Celsius, ice crystaly join in large clumps.

http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/01/us-east-coast-snow-storms/

Sleet, Glaze and Hail

Sleet-small particles of clear-to-translucent ice.

Glaze- Freezing rain that was freezing before hitting objects.

Hail- cumulonimbus clouds ice pellets. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cle/wx_events/2008/2008end.php

CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION PROJECT

By: Erinne Finlayson

THE END!!!