Show:
Making Clouds
Definitions
Types of Clouds
Types of Air Masses
Air Mass Origins
100
What is the first step in the formation of clouds?
Warm, moist air rises.
100
What do we call an extremely large body of air whose temperature and moisture content are fairly similar?
Air Mass.
100
These clouds are high, white, and thin.
Cirrus Clouds.
100
This air mass contains a lot of moisture and is warm.
Maritime Tropical.
100
Describe the temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass that forms over the gulf of mexico.
Humid and hot.
200
What is the second step in the formation of clouds?
As the air rises it expands and cools.
200
Heavy water droplets that get too big to remain suspended in a cloud, and fall towards the Earth's surface.
Precipitation.
200
These clouds are puffy and white.
Cumulus Clouds.
200
This type of air mass has a high relative humidity but is cold.
Maritime Polar.
200
Describe the temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass that forms over the deserts of Southwestern Texas.
Hot and dry.
300
What is the third step in the formation of clouds?
If the air temperature cools to the dew point, condensation will occur.
300
What do we call energy transfers due to density differences?
Convection.
300
This clouds produce slow, steady rain.
Nimbostratus Clouds.
300
This air mass forms over land and is cold.
Continental Polar.
300
Describe the temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass that forms over the North Pacific Ocean.
Humid and cold.
400
What is the fourth step in the formation of clouds?
Water will condense on particles in the air called condensation nuclei.
400
Sometimes moist air will blow towards a mountain and create clouds as the air rises up. We say that these clouds formed as a result of _______ .
Topography.
400
These clouds are sheets or layers that cover most of the sky.
Stratus Clouds.
400
This type of air mass forms over land and is warm.
Continental Tropical.
400
Describe the temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass that forms over Southern Canada.
Cold and dry.
500
Explain each of the four steps that must happen for clouds to form.
Warm, moist air rises. As the air rises it expands and cools. If the air temperature cools to the dew point, condensation will occur. Water will condense on particles in the air called condensation nuclei.
500
What do we call particles in the air that water vapor condenses on to form clouds?
Condensation Nuclei
500
These clouds produce short, heavy rain and sometimes thunderstorms.
Cumulonimbus Clouds.
500
This type of air mass is incredibly cold and dry.
Continental Arctic.
500
Describe the temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass that forms over the Northern most part of Canada.
Frigid cold and dry.