VIII. CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION
Review Questions
  • 1. a) Water changes through three phases. What are these? How do we "see" each in the atmosphere?
    • b) What are the names given to the processes of change? 
    • c) What is the name of the heat exchange that occurs with these changes?
    • d) Draw a diagram to show how evaporation, condensation and precipitation relate to the hydrologic cycle. 
  • 2. a) What is the dew point temperature? 
    • b) What is the condensation level? 
    • c) What does the dew point temperature of a parcel of air depend on?
  • 3. a) What are condensation nuclei? 
    • b) What are their sources? 
    • c)What are freezing nuclei? 
    • d) What is the relation between cloud droplets, rain droplets and condensation nuclei? 
  • 4. a)What are the two mechanisms by which rain droplets form? 
    • b) Which of the two precipitation processes are you likely to find in cold clouds? 
  • 5. What is the influence of mountains (orographic uplift) on precipitation (amount and type)? Explain the processes involved. 
  • 6. What is the importance of latent heat in the generation of cumulonimbus clouds? (Explain the role of convection) 
  • 7. a) Why do cumulus clouds have flat bottoms? 
    • b) Why do all clouds not yield rain? 
  • 8. a)What are the characteristics of cirrus clouds? 
    • b) How are stratus clouds formed? 
    • c) What types of clouds tend to be associated with stable and unstable conditions? 
  • 9. a) What conditions in the atmosphere result in sleet? 
    • b) Freezing rain? 
    • c) Snow? 
    • d) Hail? 
  • 10. Identify four types of fog. Explain the mechanisms by which they are formed? 
  • 11. a)Why does dew occur more on clear than cloudy nights? 
    • b)Why does steam appear to rise over rivers/lakes on cold winter mornings?
    • c)Why does fog often occur downwind of a lake or river in the winter?
    • d)Why does fog appear to thicken from the ground up at night, and "lift" from the surface up in the morning? 
  • 12. Using the web resources, generate a map of global precipitation patterns. 
    • a) What sorts of clouds allow you to see the thermal equator? Where is it currently?
    • b) Why does it rain a lot at the equator? 
    • c)Why are the world's deserts located where they are? 
    • d)Why in the midlatitudes are there areas with heavy rainfall on the west coasts of the continents? 
  • 13. Using the web resources, generate maps of summer and winter precipitation in the United States. Describe and explain the patterns you observe.