GHY 104 STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Precipitation - ANSWER Precipitation occurs when cloud droplets or ice
crystals become large enough to fall due to gravity.
Warm Cloud Precipitation - ANSWER In warm clouds, clouds above freezing,
this occurs because of the collision-coalescence (bump-stick) process.
Cold Cloud Precipitation - ANSWER In cold clouds, clouds below freezing,
this occurs because of the Bergeron process.
Rain - ANSWER Liquid water droplets that are melted snow flakes or large
cloud droplets in warm clouds... All air above surface > 0°C
Snow - ANSWER aggregates of ice crystals (snow flakes) and small pellets
from cold cloudsAll air above surface < 0°C
Freezing rain - ANSWER Snowflakes pass through warm air and melt, then
become supercooled and refreeze onto cool surfaceAir above surface > 0°C,
but very close to surface < 0°C
Sleet - ANSWER Snowflakes pass through warm air and melt, then refreeze
mid airAir above surface > 0°C, but near surface < 0°C
Hail - ANSWER Ice pellets > 0.5 cmForm in cumulonimbus cloud from
process of rimming - water droplets freezing on contact with ice crystalsHail
grows as it repeatedly freezes and thaws due to strong up and downdrafts in
vertically developed clouds
Weather - ANSWER the short-term (day-to-day) condition of the
, atmosphere.
Climate - ANSWER the long-term average (e.g., decades) of weather
conditions and extremes in a region.
Air mass - ANSWER a body of air with uniform temperature, humidity, and
stability characteristics.
Continental polar - ANSWER air masses form only in the Northern
Hemisphere, most developed in winter, associated with cold temps., ATM
stability, clear skies, high pressure, and anticyclonic wind flow.
Maritime polar - ANSWER air masses in the Northern Hemisphere exist over
the northern oceans (N Atlantic, N Pacific). associated with cool, moist,
unstable conditions throughout the year.
maritime tropical - ANSWER air influence North America and develop over
the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean, conditionally unstable or totally
unstable and active from late spring to early fall
Air Mass Modification - ANSWER As air masses migrate from source regions,
their temp and moisture characteristics change and slowly take on the
characteristics of the land over which they pass.
Four Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms - ANSWER convergent, convectional,
orographic, frontal
Convergent Lifting - ANSWER Two identical air masses flow toward an area
of low pressure.Air converges, ascends, cools and condensation occurs
Convectional Lifting - ANSWER Air above a warm surface is heated and rises
The warmer surfaces produce convectional lifting due to local heating.
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Precipitation - ANSWER Precipitation occurs when cloud droplets or ice
crystals become large enough to fall due to gravity.
Warm Cloud Precipitation - ANSWER In warm clouds, clouds above freezing,
this occurs because of the collision-coalescence (bump-stick) process.
Cold Cloud Precipitation - ANSWER In cold clouds, clouds below freezing,
this occurs because of the Bergeron process.
Rain - ANSWER Liquid water droplets that are melted snow flakes or large
cloud droplets in warm clouds... All air above surface > 0°C
Snow - ANSWER aggregates of ice crystals (snow flakes) and small pellets
from cold cloudsAll air above surface < 0°C
Freezing rain - ANSWER Snowflakes pass through warm air and melt, then
become supercooled and refreeze onto cool surfaceAir above surface > 0°C,
but very close to surface < 0°C
Sleet - ANSWER Snowflakes pass through warm air and melt, then refreeze
mid airAir above surface > 0°C, but near surface < 0°C
Hail - ANSWER Ice pellets > 0.5 cmForm in cumulonimbus cloud from
process of rimming - water droplets freezing on contact with ice crystalsHail
grows as it repeatedly freezes and thaws due to strong up and downdrafts in
vertically developed clouds
Weather - ANSWER the short-term (day-to-day) condition of the
, atmosphere.
Climate - ANSWER the long-term average (e.g., decades) of weather
conditions and extremes in a region.
Air mass - ANSWER a body of air with uniform temperature, humidity, and
stability characteristics.
Continental polar - ANSWER air masses form only in the Northern
Hemisphere, most developed in winter, associated with cold temps., ATM
stability, clear skies, high pressure, and anticyclonic wind flow.
Maritime polar - ANSWER air masses in the Northern Hemisphere exist over
the northern oceans (N Atlantic, N Pacific). associated with cool, moist,
unstable conditions throughout the year.
maritime tropical - ANSWER air influence North America and develop over
the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean, conditionally unstable or totally
unstable and active from late spring to early fall
Air Mass Modification - ANSWER As air masses migrate from source regions,
their temp and moisture characteristics change and slowly take on the
characteristics of the land over which they pass.
Four Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms - ANSWER convergent, convectional,
orographic, frontal
Convergent Lifting - ANSWER Two identical air masses flow toward an area
of low pressure.Air converges, ascends, cools and condensation occurs
Convectional Lifting - ANSWER Air above a warm surface is heated and rises
The warmer surfaces produce convectional lifting due to local heating.
