2. Adiabatic Temperature Changes
Happens when air is compresses or expanded.
When it expands it cools and when it compresses it
warms.
As you travel up in the atmosphere the atmosphere
pressure decreases because there are fewer and fewer
gas molecules.
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0070-
adiabatic-temperature-changes.php
3. Orographic Lifting
When elevated terrains act like barriers for air to flow.
If air descends, it warms adiabatically, then it makes
condensation and precipitation even less likely.
http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.LiftingMechanisms
4. Frontal Wedging
Associated with specific storms called middle-latitude
cyclones.
Cooler, denser air acts as a barrier over the warmer, less
dense air that rises.
http://www.wou.edu/las/physci/taylo
r/gs106/atm2_precip_files/frame.htm
#slide0004.htm
5. Convergence
Air in lower atmosphere flows together.
Florida experiences the greatest number of mid-
afternoon thunderstorms.
http://certik.github.com/femhub.org/
6. Localized Convective Lifting
On warm summer days, unequal heating of the Earth’s
surface may cause pockets of air be warmed more than
the surrounding air.
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/sig
n_in.php?go_back_to=http%253
A%252F%252Fwww.meted.ucar.e
du%252Fdot%252Fprint.htm
7. Stability
Stable air tends to remain in its original position, while
unstable air tends to rise.
Measured by the temperature of the atmosphere at
various heights.
http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/models/E
qStBOT.html
8. Condensation
Air must be saturated.
Water vapor in air turns to liquid.
Occurs at dew point.
http://decorating.visitacasas.com/how-to-
combat-condensation/
9. Types of Clouds
Classified by their form and height.
3 types: Cirrus, Cirromulus, Cirrostratus.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcirrus.
htm
10. High Clouds
Cirromulus consist of fluffy mass.
Cirrostratus clouds are flat layers.
http://cloudjournal.blogspot.com/2007/11/c
ross-winds.html
11. Middle Clouds
Altocumulus clouds consist of a rounded mass, larger
and denser.
http://www.ifimages.com/public/image/139
051/view.html
13. Clouds of Vertical Development
Bases are in low height range but extend upward.
They are all related and have unstable air.
http://www.pilotfriend.com/av_weather/me
teo/clouds.htm
14. Fog ( by cooling and by
evaporation)
Fog is a cloud with its base at or very near ground.
Fog can form on cool, calm, clear nights.
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundame
ntals/8f.html
15. Cold Cloud Precipitation
Bergeron process relies on two physical processes:
supercooling and supersaturated.
Liquid below 0 degrees Celsius is said to be
supercooling.
http://ocw.usu.edu/Forest__Range__and_W
ildlife_Sciences/Wildland_Fire_Managemen
t_and_Planning/Unit_4__Temperature-
Moisture_Relationship_7.html
16. Warm Cloud Precipitation
The thing that forms raindrops is called the collision-
coalescence process.
As the raindrops move they join together with smaller,
slower droplets.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=warmrain
paper
17. Rain and Snow
The term rain means droplets that fall from a cloud
and a diameter of at least 0.5 mm. (smaller droplets are
called drizzle)
At very low temperatures light, fluffy snow made up of
6 sided ice crystals.
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcr
ystals/photos/photos.htm
18. Sleet, Glaze and Hail
Sleet is the fall of small particles of clear ice.
Glaze also known as freezing rain happens when
raindrops become supercooled.
http://www.alabamawx.com/?tag=sleet
