Download Temperature and clouds and stuff

Temperature
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Temperature is the speed in which a particle is moving
Heat is described by a transfer of heat
Temperature scales- kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit
Dew Point- condensation temp., depends on water content in the air, when temp reached dew
point, condensation occurs
Air cools as elevation increases
Dry air cold at about 10 C / 1000 m
If you travel high enough, the air cools at dew point. This is called lifted condensation level
Moist air cools at about 6 C / 1000 m (cools slower)
The air near the earth’s surface is denser than the air that’s further up
Higher up, the lower the pressure
As temperature goes up, the pressure goes up, this is called direct relationship
As temperature goes up density goes down, this is called inverse relationship
Temperature of the air increases with elevation
Layers act as lids, holding the gases in below
Wind
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Results from differences in temp
Warm air has a lower density and rises causing low pressure
Cool air has a higher density and falls causing high pressure
Relative Humidity
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Depends on- how much moisture is present and how much could be in the air
Warm air holds much more moisture
If the relative humidity is 100% this means
Clouds
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Steps to make a cloud
o Warm moist air rises
o The air expands and cools
o Air reaches its dew point
o Water droplets condense around the condensation nuclei (adhesion)
Causes for warm air to rise
o Orographic lifting wind pushing air upwards toward the mountains
o Warmer air encounters colder air- the warm air moves upwards due to placement of
cold air
Atmospheric Stability
o A stable atmosphere has no or thin layers of clouds (good weather)
o An unstable atmosphere will have vertical development, thunderstorms indicate an
unstable atmosphere
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Latent Heat
o Energy required to evaporate water is stored in the water vapor
High clouds- cirro
Middle clouds- alto
Low clouds- strato
“Hair like” or stringy- cirrus
Piled up, and heap(y)- cumulus
Layered or sheet clouds- Stratus
Long gray rain clouds- nimbus