Chapter 5 Condensation Dew Fog and Clouds Picks of clouds on next test you will have to identify The Formation of Dew and Frost point temperature Dew forms on objects near the ground surface when they cool below the dew Basically cloud droplets on the ground o More likely on clear nights due to increased radioactive cooling White frost forms when temperature cools below the dew point and the dew point is below 0degrees Celsius Condensation Nuclei CCN cloud condensation nuclei Particles suspended in the air that around which water condenses or freezes o Hydrophobic hygroscopic Make bad CCN s Cannot form cloud droplet purely from saturation must have something to grow around Good CCN likes to absorb water soluble water loving hydrophilic o Small ones are more important Small Aitken Condensation Nuclei Very light weight can float around for long period Haze Dry condensation nuclei above dew point reflect water and scatter sunlight s Wet condensation nuclei 75 relative humidity reflect and scatter sunlight creating blueish haze creating a grayish or white haze Fog 3 types of fog Saturation reached condensation forms a cloud near the ground Radiation fog ground cools through conduction and radiation ground fog o Valley fog created by cold air drainage o High inversion fog Steam fog found over body of water about 4 5 ft high o Goes to lowest point but since specific heat of water is so high even though it is cold is warmer than the air around it therefore air right above the warm water becomes saturated Upon saturation and relative humidity reaching 100 Then cold air comes in overnight and cools the air over the pond resulting in lower relative humidity capacity which makes condensation occur to get humidity back down to 100 Similar to why so foggy in California Evection Fog o Warm saturated air from the west blows over the cool water of the California cool water cools the air makes it condense due to low relative humidity capacity Chapter 5 cont Water vapor invisible gas Release pressure Air is cooled o Relative humidity goes up air can hold less when air cools it expands release pressure when air heats it condenses build pressure idiomatic cooling o After dropping match into bottle of water pressurized Tiny particles of burning match formed CCN to which a cloud fog could form around Made from tiny particles of burning match head before it was extinguished in the water Vapor pressure partial pressure due to the water vapor in the air number small not much water vapor in air Saturation Mixing Ratios of Water Vapor Saturation vapor pressure how many molecules of water vapor in cubic centimeter of air as long as CCN are available if pressure gets too high the water vapor can transform into liquid water to decrease the pressure Saturation Vapor Pressure Same as equilibrium vapor pressure o Amount evaporating is same as what is coming in o Figure on Saturation of water vapor Clausius Clapeyron Equation Relation o Saturation vapor pressure as a function of temperature as temperature increase can hold more air water Take parcel A and mix with parcel B average of temp of two directly cooresponds w how much water vapor it can hold Two unsaturated parcels forming a supersaturated parcel cold day Helps explain why you can see your breath on Same amount of moisture in the air only thing that changes is the ability of that air to hold moisture Radiation Fog last 3rd type of radiation Cloud Classification Based on height or type High clouds o Cirrus Middle clouds o Cirrostratus o Cirrocumulus o Altostratus o Altocumulus Low Clouds o Stratus o Stratocumulus o Nimbostratus o Cumulus o Cumulonimbus Clouds with Vertical Development Chapters 5 6 7 and 19 on next Exam Difference in appearanced based on location in sky High 5000 13000m Middle 2000m 7000m Low 0 2000m multiply by about 3 to get feet High Cloud examples Cirrus clouds white and whispy Medium Cloud examples Low Cloud examples stratus cumulus Cumulus thunder clouds may reach up through multiple layers but it is where it is first formed at the bottom most layer High Clouds Cirrus Clouds Think whispy Blown by high winds in the upper level jet stream above 7k m Formed by ice crystals being driven by the winds in jet stream Cirrocumulus has more of a puffy shape can almost see individual puffs o Still in high sky o Ripple like o Typically cover small part of the sky Cirrostratus very thin sheet of clouds above kinda hazy o Causes halo effect of sun 22degree angle o Covers entire sky usually have a root word cumulus in them Middle Clouds Altocumulus Puffy but thin clouds hybrid between high and middle clouds o Even puffier than higher clouds cirrocumulus as you go lower in atmosphere clouds get puffier Identify by seeing part of the cloud may appear darker than other ones Most common in middle atmosphere cover most of sky Altostratus Similar to cirrostratus except clouds are thicker Covers most of sky almost covers sun very dim clouds that actually produce precipitation Low Clouds Stratus cloud Uniform thick grey cloud o Usually not associated with precipitation maybe drizzle Nimbostratus o More of a hybrid of a cumulonimbus and a stratus cloud o Darker more violent look than stratus o Usually associated with long lasting precipitation Stratocumulus o In between a stratus and a cumulus o Best time to see them is after a thunder storm o Darker puffy clouds that make it look like it it will rain but isnt Basically cumulus but a little more drawn out elongated Cumulus cloud Puffy low cloud common in summertime in Florida o As they progress they get taller and taller grow into other layers Forms cumulonimbus cloud thunderstorm cloud Convective cloud o Heat rises makes the cloud grow and rise higher into the atmosphere Fractus Cloud nature Little puffs of broken pieces of clouds Skud slang term Usually associated with low clouds and thunderstorms because chaotic in Mammatus Clouds Caused by downward motion of air On side on cumulonimbus or bottom of stratus Usually occur before severe thunderstorm Lenticularis Cloud Almost like a swirling alien drop ship Thick swirling pattern Incus Anvil Cloud High level clouds that are sheared off of a cirrus cloud that hit jet stream Leading edge of the high cloud Pileus Cloud Attached to upper part of cumulus cloud Looks like a cap or hood Castellanus Describes cumulus in process of becoming thunderstorm o Showing vertical development Tabe 5 4 Know first 4 and last 4 terms o Terms used to identify clouds Skipping
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