latent heat
the process of changing state that requires that energy is transferred in the form of heat
atmospheric processes
Latent Heat plays a crucial role in many of these
latent heat
What is the major source of energy for thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes?
evaporation
the energy absorbed water molecules give the motion needed to escape the surface of liquid and become a gas
cooling
evaporation is a _______ process
condensation
water vapor changing to the liquid state
condensation
in the atmosphere, this generates clouds and fog
latent heat of condensation
for condensation to occur, water molecules must release their stored heat energy, THIS, equal to what was absorbed during evaporation
sublimation
the conversion of a solid directly to a gas without passing through the liquid state
deposition
the conversion of a vapor directly to a solid, without passing through the liquid state
deposition
when water vapor is deposited as frost on cold objects such as grass or windows
humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air
saturated
when the number of vapor molecules returning to the surface balances the number leaving the air it is said to be _________.
more
Does saturated, warm air contain more or less water vapor than cold air?
Relative Humidity
a ratio of the air's actual water vapor content compared with the amount of water vapor air can hold at that temperature and pressure
relative humidity
indicates how near the air is to saturation
by increasing the air's relative humidity
how can air be cooled?
dew point
the temperature in which a parcel of air would need to be cooled to reach saturation
cirrus
high, white, and thin clouds. they can occur as patches or as delicate veil-like sheets, or extended wispy fibers that often have a feathery appearance
cumulus
clouds consisting of rounded individual cloud masses. normally they have a flat base and the appearance of rising domes or towers, cauliflower
stratus
these clouds are best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky
alto
higher than normal
nimbo
lower clouds, rain
orographic lifting
when elevated terrains, such as mountatins, act as barriers to air flow...as air goes up a mountain slope, adiabatic cooling often generates clouds and precipitation
frontal wedging
this occurs when masses of warm air and cold air collide, producing a front
frontal wedging
the cooler, denser air acts as a barrier over which the warmer, less dense air rises
convergence
the collision of contrasting air masses forces air to rise
convergence
whenever air in the lower atmosphere flows together, lifting results
localized convective lifting
on warm summer days, unequal heating of Earth's surface may cause pockets of air to be warmed more than the surrounding air.
thermals
the parcel of air, which is warmer and less dense than the surrounding air, will move upward. these parcels of warmer air are called ________.
localized convective lifting
the process that produces rising thermals
temperature inversion
the most stable conditions happen when air temperature actually increases with height
form, height
clouds are classified on their basis of their ____ and ______.
condensation nuclei
tiny bits of particulate matter that serve as surfaces for water-vapor condensation