Water in the Atmosphere. Key Terms to understand The Water Cycle Evaporation - Condensation – process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become

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 –


• Hail –


• Freezing Rain –


• Sleet –


• Snow –

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Water in the Atmosphere. Key Terms to understand The Water Cycle Evaporation - Condensation – process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become