Water in the Atmosphere
Key Terms to understand The Water Cycle
• Evaporation - • Condensation – process by which molecules of
water vapor in the air become liquid water• Precipitation – Any form of water that falls
from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface.
The Water Cycle
Precipitation falls from the
clouds toward the surface. The water then runs off the surface (moves through ground) back into the oceans, lakes and streams
How Do Clouds Form?
• All kinds of clouds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals.
• Some of the water vapor in the air condenses to form droplets of liquid water.
Dew Point – Temperature at which condensation begins
Clouds form whenever air is cooled to its dew point and particles are present.
How Do Clouds Form Experiment
• directions
Types of Clouds
Clouds are differentiated by Altitudes and Shapes
AltitudesHigh – Prefixed by cirro 20000-40000Medium – Prefixed by alto 6500-20000Low - below 6500
Types of Clouds Cont.
ShapesCumulus – Heap, PileStratus - LayerCirrus – wispy and thin, curl of hairNimbus – rainy cloud, likely to bring precipitation
Each type of cloud is associated with a different type of weather
Cumulus Clouds
Usually a sign of fair weather
Cirrocumullus (high) Altocumulus (med) Cumulonimbus (low)Cumulus
Stratus Clouds
Cirrostratus (high) Altostratus(med)Nimbrostratus (rainy)Stratus (low)
Cirrus Clouds
Made up of mostly ice crystals Means there could be an approaching storm\High Alt. Cloud
Fog
• Clouds that form at or near the ground. • Forms when the ground cools at night after a
warm, humid day • The ground cools the air just above the ground
to the airs dew point
What Type of Cloud is it?
• ( include 3 main types and fod)
• How can you tell which is which? .. By shape
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface.
Types of Precipitation
• Rain –
Types of Precipitation
• Hail –
Types of Precipitation
• Freezing Rain –
Types of Precipitation
• Sleet –
Types of Precipitation
• Snow –