Clouds and

precipitation

Adiabatic temperature changes

• When air expands it drops• Change in temp without addition

or removal of heat

Orographic lifting• This occurs when air mass is

forced from low elevation to a higher elevation.• This happens high up in the sky.

Frontal wedging• When cold and warm air collide

on the surface of the earth.• Warm air is force up because its

less dense.

convergence•Greater in flow then out

flow.

Localized convective lifting

•Warm air rising above an particular local city.

stability•The balance of the weather

condensation•When water vapor cools to its

dew point and changes back in to a liquid.

Types of clouds• There are four types of clouds.• Cumulus, Stratus, cirrus, and

Cumulonimbus.

High clouds

•Made out of air that is so cold its made up of ice crystals.

Middle clouds•Made up of ice crystals.• In the middle part of the

atmosphere.

Low clouds•Located in the lower part of the atmosphere.•Called stratus.

Clouds of vertical development

• Crated from the bottom up.• Called cumulus.

fog•Crated by water vapor in the air.

Cold cloud precipitation•Known as snow or sleet.•Happens when it rains and

its below 32 degrees.

Warm cloud precipitation• Known as rain• Happens when it rains and its

above 32 degrees.

Rain and snow• Rain changes to snow when the

temp goes below 32 degrees.

Sleet, glaze and hail• Sleet is a very wet form of snow.• Hail is frozen rain.

Picture cites• http://www.jonschrage.com/2xats113/2xE2L5/• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/

clouds/

• http://www.bigbranch.net/high%20clouds.htm• http://anthonyjstewart.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/chicago-low-clouds-

and-mist/

• http://erikras.com/2007/11/08/4x4-jeep-in-isla-margarita-honeymoon-day-8/

• http://braindanceisawayoflife.blogspot.com/2009/04/cloudspotters-guide.html

• http://helicopterblog.com/?p=276• http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/ecology-of-snow.html• http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0119-hail.php

Byeee!!!!