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Atmosphere I
Questions about clouds and atmosphere
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is orographic lift? | The process where air is forced to rise over mountains, cooling and condensing to form clouds. |
| Which cloud type is most commonly formed by orographic lift? | Stratocumulus or lenticular clouds. |
| What is a lenticular cloud? | A lens-shaped cloud that forms when moist air flows over a mountain range. |
| What does the presence of lenticular clouds indicate about mountain winds? | Strong winds aloft and possible turbulence. |
| Why do windward mountain slopes receive more precipitation than leeward slopes? | Rising air cools and condenses, releasing moisture on the windward side. |
| What is a rain shadow? | A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain caused by descending, warming air. |
| Which cloud type is most associated with thunderstorms in mountains? | Cumulonimbus. |
| What is the primary ingredient needed for cloud formation? | Water vapor. |
| What is the dew point? | The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor condenses into liquid. |
| How does air temperature change as it rises over a mountain? | It cools at the dry or moist adiabatic lapse rate. |
| What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate? | The rate at which unsaturated air cools as it rises, about 10°C per kilometer. |
| What is the moist adiabatic lapse rate? | The rate at which saturated air cools as it rises, about 6-7°C per kilometer. |
| What is a cap cloud? | A stationary cloud over a mountain peak, indicating strong winds and potential weather changes. |
| What is virga and where is it commonly seen? | Rain that evaporates before reaching the ground, often seen in deserts. |
| Why do deserts often have clear skies? | Dry air lacks sufficient moisture for cloud formation. |
| What is a haboob? | A large dust storm caused by downdrafts from thunderstorms in deserts. |
| What is the main hazard of cumulonimbus clouds in the desert? | Severe thunderstorms, lightning, and flash floods. |
| What is the main hazard of cumulonimbus clouds in the mountains? | Thunderstorms, hail, and lightning. |
| What is the main cause of afternoon thunderstorms in mountains? | Solar heating and convection. |
| Why are flash floods common in desert canyons? | Intense rain can cause rapid runoff in dry, impermeable soils. |
| What is a characteristic of cirrus clouds? | High, wispy clouds made of ice crystals, often indicating changing weather. |
| What is fog, and how can it form in mountain valleys? | A cloud at ground level, forming when cool air settles in valleys and reaches dew point. |
| What is a cloud base? | The lowest altitude of visible cloud formation. |
| Why do desert nights often get very cold? | Dry air and clear skies allow rapid heat loss. |
| What is the role of water vapor in cloud formation? | It condenses into droplets or ice crystals when air cools to the dew point. |
| What is a stratiform cloud? | A flat, layered cloud often covering large areas, associated with stable air. |
| What is a convective cloud? | A cloud formed by rising warm air, such as cumulus or cumulonimbus. |
| What is the main difference between cumulus and stratus clouds? | Cumulus are puffy and vertical. stratus are flat and layered. |
| What is a rain shadow desert? | A desert formed on the leeward side of a mountain due to dry descending air. |
| What is the main risk of hiking above treeline during a thunderstorm? | Exposure to lightning strikes. |
| What is the main risk of camping in a desert wash? | Flash flooding from distant thunderstorms. |
| What is a dust devil? | A small, rotating column of air that picks up dust, common in deserts on hot days. |
| What is the main reason for rapid weather changes in mountains? | Complex terrain causes fast-moving and localized atmospheric changes. |
| What is the typical base altitude of clouds in deserts compared to mountains? | Cloud bases are generally higher in deserts due to drier air. |
| What is the main visual sign of a developing thunderstorm in the mountains? | Rapidly growing, dark, vertically developed clouds. |
| What is the main visual sign of a developing thunderstorm in the desert? | Tall, isolated cumulonimbus clouds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in slot canyons during rain? | Flash floods. |
| What is the main effect of a cold front passing over mountains? | Rapid weather changes, increased wind, and possible storms. |
| What is a mammatus cloud? | A pouch-like formation under a thunderstorm, indicating severe weather. |
| What is the main risk of hiking on ridges during a storm? | Lightning and exposure to wind. |
| Why do mountain valleys sometimes fill with fog overnight? | Cool air sinks and moisture condenses at the valley floor. |
| What is advection fog, and where might you encounter it? | Fog formed by moist air moving over a cooler surface, possible in coastal deserts or mountain valleys. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in deserts after a thunderstorm? | Flash floods and unstable ground. |
| What is the main hazard of strong downdrafts from thunderstorms in deserts? | Haboobs (dust storms) and rapid temperature drops. |
| What is a cloud inversion? | A layer of clouds trapped below warmer air, often seen in valleys. |
| What is the main risk of hiking near dry lakes (playas) in the desert after rain? | Sudden flooding or getting stuck in mud. |
| What is the main reason for clear, starry nights in deserts? | Low humidity and lack of clouds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in mountain passes during a storm? | Whiteout, wind, and lightning. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in canyons during a distant storm? | Flash floods from rain falling miles away. |
| What is the most important principle for weather safety in mountains and deserts? | Monitor clouds, respect weather warnings, and be prepared to change plans. |
| What are cirrostratus clouds? | High, thin clouds that often cover the sky and can create a halo around the sun or moon. |
| What does a halo around the sun or moon indicate? | Cirrostratus clouds and possible approaching precipitation within 24 hours. |
| What are cirrocumulus clouds? | Small, high, patchy clouds often arranged in rows, made of ice crystals. |
| What is the significance of increasing cirrus or cirrostratus clouds? | A sign that a change in weather, such as rain or snow, is likely within 24 hours. |
| What are altocumulus clouds? | Mid-level, white or gray puffy clouds, often indicating instability and possible precipitation. |
| What does the presence of altocumulus clouds on a warm, humid morning suggest? | Possible afternoon thunderstorms or rain. |
| What are altostratus clouds? | Mid-level, gray or blue-gray clouds that often cover the whole sky and precede storms with continuous rain. |
| What are nimbostratus clouds? | Thick, dark, low clouds that bring steady, prolonged precipitation. |
| What are stratocumulus clouds? | Low, lumpy clouds that can cover the entire sky but usually do not bring heavy precipitation. |
| What is a fair weather cumulus cloud? | A small, puffy cumulus cloud with little vertical growth, indicating stable, pleasant weather. |
| What is cumulus congestus? | A cumulus cloud with significant vertical growth, indicating strong updrafts and possible development into a thunderstorm. |
| What is the difference between cumulus congestus and cumulonimbus? | Cumulus congestus has vertical growth but does not yet produce thunder. cumulonimbus is a mature thunderstorm cloud. |
| What is a cloud family? | A group of clouds classified by altitude: high, middle, or low. |
| What are the three main high cloud types? | Cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus. |
| What are the two main middle cloud types? | Altocumulus and altostratus. |
| What are the three main low cloud types? | Stratocumulus, stratus, and nimbostratus. |
| What is a multi-level cloud? | A cloud, like cumulonimbus, that extends through more than one altitude level. |
| What is the main precipitation-producing low cloud? | Nimbostratus. |
| What is the main precipitation-producing vertical cloud? | Cumulonimbus. |
| What is the main difference between nimbostratus and cumulonimbus precipitation? | Nimbostratus brings steady rain. cumulonimbus brings showers, hail, or thunderstorms. |
| What is the typical composition of high clouds? | Ice crystals. |
| What is the typical composition of low clouds? | Water droplets, sometimes ice crystals if cold enough. |
| What is a cloud's optical thickness? | A measure of how much sunlight it blocks, with thicker clouds blocking more light. |
| What is the significance of a thickening and lowering cloud deck? | An approaching front or storm system. |
| What is a fogbow? | A faint, white rainbow formed by sunlight shining through fog droplets. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in fog in the mountains? | Reduced visibility and increased risk of getting lost. |
| What is the main cause of dew or frost in mountain valleys? | Clear skies and calm winds allowing rapid nighttime cooling. |
| What is the main effect of an overcast sky on nighttime temperatures? | It keeps temperatures higher by trapping heat. |
| What is the main effect of a clear sky on nighttime temperatures? | It causes rapid cooling and possible dew or frost. |
| What is the main difference between a stratus and a fog? | Fog is a stratus cloud at ground level. |
| What is the main risk of camping on the leeward side of a mountain during a storm? | Strong, dry winds and rapid temperature changes. |
| What is the main risk of camping on the windward side of a mountain during a storm? | Heavy precipitation and possible flooding. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in a desert during a cold front? | Rapid temperature drop and strong winds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in a mountain valley during a warm front? | Steady rain or snow from nimbostratus and altostratus clouds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in a mountain valley during a cold front? | Showers and thunderstorms from cumulonimbus clouds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking in a desert during a thunderstorm? | Flash floods and lightning. |
| What is a cloud street? | A row of cumulus clouds aligned with the wind, often seen in deserts and mountains. |
| What is a pileus cloud? | A smooth, cap-like cloud above a cumulus or cumulonimbus, indicating strong updrafts. |
| What is a banner cloud? | A cloud that forms on the leeward side of a mountain peak due to turbulent air. |
| What is the main risk of hiking near a mountain with a banner cloud? | Strong, turbulent winds. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when altostratus clouds thicken and lower? | Approaching steady precipitation. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when cumulus clouds grow rapidly in the afternoon? | Possible thunderstorms. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when cirrus clouds increase and thicken? | Weather change within 24 hours. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by nimbostratus? | Prolonged, steady rain or snow. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by stratocumulus? | Overcast skies, possible light rain, but not severe weather. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by cirrocumulus? | Generally fair weather, but possible weather change if they increase. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by altocumulus? | Possible showers or thunderstorms if the air is unstable. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by cirrostratus? | Possible precipitation within 24 hours. |
| What is the main risk of hiking when the sky is covered by fog? | Low visibility and navigation hazards. |
| What is the most important principle for cloud and weather safety in mountains and deserts? | Observe the sky, understand cloud types, and adjust plans for changing conditions. |
Created by:
dscintille