Water Cycle
This process turns liquid water into water vapor.
Evaporation
Clouds are made of this.
Water droplets / ice crystals
Storms often form where these meet.
Air masses
A large body of air with similar temperature and humidity.
Air mass
The force pulling objects downward.
Gravity
Water vapor changes into liquid water during this process.
Condensation
Clouds form when air reaches this humidity level.
100% humidity
Higher humidity leads to this type of storms.
Higher storms
Air masses in the U.S. generally move in this direction.
West to east
Rising air can keep droplets in clouds because of this force.
Upward air force / lift
Water enters the air from lakes, oceans, and plants through this process.
Evaporation
Tiny particles that water vapor sticks to in order to form clouds
Cloud condensation nuclei
Rising air is also called this.
Updraft
When warm and cold air meet, this forms.
Front
When upward force equals gravity, an object will do this.
When upward force equals gravity, an object will do this.
his increases when more water vapor is in the air.
Humidity
We see clouds because they do this to light.
Reflect/scatter light
Large temperature differences cause this in storms.
Stronger storms / more lift
Warm air does this when it meets cold air.
Rises / slides over
Low pressure is usually associated with this type of weather.
Low pressure is usually associated with this type of weather.
Water molecules must gain this to leave a liquid and become gas.
Energy (thermal/kinetic energy)
What must happen to temperature for clouds to form?
Air must cool
What two conditions are needed for strong storms?
High humidity + temperature differences
Cold air does this when it meets warm air.
Pushes under / lifts warm air
What happens when gravity is stronger than upward air force?
Objects fall