three phases of the atmosphere
water vapor, ice, water
changing form of water
evaporation
evaporation
fastest moving molecules escape from the liquid to form invisible water vapor
latent heat
heat energy that is absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change
sublimination
solid changes directly into a gas
humidity
water vapor in the atmosphere
dew point
condensation rate equals the evaporation rate
absolute humidity
mass of water vapor contained in a given volume of air
relative humidity
ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the amount needed to reach saturation
clouds
collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air
condensation nucleus
solid particle in the atmosphere that provides the surface on which water vapor condenses
adiabatic cooling
process by which the temperature of an air mass decreases as the air mass rises and expands
mixing
one body of moist air mixes with another body of moist air that has a different temperature
lifting
upward movement of air commonly results in the cooling of air and in cloud formation
adective cooling
temperature of an air mass decreases as the air mass moves over a cold surface
stratus clouds
low altitudes
cummulus clouds
puffy clouds
cirrus clouds
high altitudes
fog
result of condensation of water vapor in the air
precipitation
any form of water that falls to earth surface from the clouds
coalescence
formation of a large droplet by the combination of smaller droplets
supercooling
condition in which a substance is cooled below freezing point