Hail & Storms
What phenomenon did we study this unit?
hailstorms
What are the three main types of heat transfer?
conduction, convection, and radiation
What are clouds made of?
Liquid water droplets and ice crystals
What is the process of water turning into water vapor called?
evaporation
Why can hail form even on warm days?
hail forms high in the atmosphere where temperatures are much colder
How does conduction transfer heat?
Through direct contact between substances
What happens to water vapor when air is cooled?
It condenses into liquid water droplets, forming clouds
What happens when rising air cools?
Water vapor condenses, forming clouds
What is the main reason updrafts are important in hail formation?
Updrafts keep hailstones suspended in the cloud, allowing them to grow larger
What type of heat transfer is responsible for warm air rising and cool air sinking
Convection
Why don’t all clouds immediately produce precipitation?
Updrafts keep droplets suspended until they become too heavy
Why does warm, moist air rise?
It is less dense than the cooler air around it
What conditions are necessary for a thunderstorm to develop? (temperature/amount of humidity)
warm, humid air rising into the atmosphere
Why does the air near the ground warm up more than air higher up?
The sun heats the Earth’s surface, which then warms the air above it
What role do tiny particles like dust and pollen play in cloud formation?
They act as surfaces for condensation, helping cloud droplets form
What is the name of the process where water vapor turns directly into ice without becoming liquid first?
Deposition
Why do clouds eventually release precipitation (rain, hail, snow, etc)?
cooling causes condensation, and when water droplets or ice become too heavy, they fall as precipitation
How does convection contribute to clouds forming?
It moves warm, moist air upward, forming clouds and storms.
What two conditions must be met for rain to fall?
Enough water vapor must condense, and droplets must be heavy enough to fall.
What effect does high humidity have on weather?
It increases the chances of cloud formation and precipitation