WX 201 Exam 3 Study Guide with complete solutions

WX 201 Exam 3 Study Guide with complete solutions What is a cloud? a volume of atmosphere containing numerous water droplets and/or ice particles What ingredients are necessary for cloud development? -Abundant water vapor -Condensation nuclei particles -A cooling mechanism What is supercooled water? At what temperature does it exist, and how does it freeze? Cloud drops that remain liquid down to -40 degrees Celcius. May freeze when the temperature decreases, encounters an ice nucleus, or collides with a solid object What are the types of fog? Radiation fog(Ground fog), advection fog, steam fog(Mixing fog), and upslope fog What are the two basic types of clouds? cumuliform and stratiform What are some visual properties of clouds? Fall Streaks: Lines extending downward from base of cloud, indicating precipitation Boundaries: water clouds have distinct edges; ice clouds usually appear bumpy Color: dark cloud base has deep vertical extent Between what height ranges are clouds considered low, middle, or high? Low: (Base6,500 ft AGL) Middle: (Base 6,500 - 20,000 ft AGL) High: (Base 20,000 ft AGL) Know these clouds: Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, cumulonimbus, cumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus. What types of satellite imagery are there? Visible imagery, infrared imagery, and water vapor imagery How is visible imagery used? Detects reflected or scattered sunlight. Indicates cloud shape, texture and opacity. Time loops reveal trends and airflow. How is infrared imagery used? Depicts infrared radiation from clouds and surfaces. How is water vapor imagery used? Detects IR Wavelength (6.7 Micrometers) emitted by water vapor