Water Cycle and CloudsWater Cycle and Clouds

Objectives

• Explain how water moves through the water cycle.

• Describe how relative humidity is affected by temperature and levels of water vapor.

• Describe the relationship between dew point and condensation.

The Water Cycle

• The condition of the atmosphere is affected by the amount of water in the air. Water in liquid, solid, and gaseous states is constantly being recycled through the water cycle.

• The water cycle is the continuous movement of water from sources on Earth’s surface into the air, onto and over land, into the ground, and back to the surface.

Steps of the Water CycleSteps of the Water Cycle

• TranspirationTranspiration - the process in which some water - the process in which some water within plants evaporates into the atmosphere. within plants evaporates into the atmosphere. Water is first absorbed by the plant's roots, then Water is first absorbed by the plant's roots, then later exits by evaporating through pores in the later exits by evaporating through pores in the plant.plant.

• EvaporationEvaporation - the process in which liquid water - the process in which liquid water becomes water vapor (a gas). Water vaporizes becomes water vapor (a gas). Water vaporizes from the surfaces of oceans and lakes, from the from the surfaces of oceans and lakes, from the surface of the land, and from melts in snow fields.surface of the land, and from melts in snow fields.

• Condensation is the process by which a gas, such as water vapor, becomes a liquid. Forms clouds or water droplets.

• Dew Point The dew point is the temperature at which a gas condenses into a liquid.

•Relative Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at a certain temperature.

Humidity

• Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.

• The air’s ability to hold water vapor changes as the temperature of the air changes.

• PrecipitationPrecipitation - the process in which - the process in which water (in the form of rain, snow, sleet, water (in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail) falls from clouds in the sky.or hail) falls from clouds in the sky.

• Run-OffRun-Off - rain, snow melt, or other water - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in on or underground that flows in on or underground streams, drains, or sewers.streams, drains, or sewers.

• AccumulationAccumulation - the process in which - the process in which water pools in large bodies (like water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).oceans, seas and lakes).

ReviewReview

Bellringer Answer

• Precipitation

•Rain is the most common form of precipitation.

• Sleet and Snow •Sleet forms when rain falls through a layer of freezing air. •Snow forms when temperatures are so cold that water vapor changes directly to a solid.

• Hail are balls or lumps of ice that fall from clouds.

Objectives

• List three types of cloud forms.

• Identify four kinds of precipitation.

• A Cloud is a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, which forms when the air is cooled and condensation occurs.

• Clouds are classified by form, and by a altitude.

Clouds

• Cumulus Clouds are puffy, white clouds that tend to have flat bottoms.

• Stratus Clouds are clouds that form in layers.

• Cirrus Clouds are thin, feathery, white clouds found at high altitudes.

Prefixes and Suffixes Used Prefixes and Suffixes Used to Describe Cloudsto Describe Clouds

• Clouds are defined by both the way they look Clouds are defined by both the way they look and how high they are in the atmosphere. and how high they are in the atmosphere.

• CirroCirro (meaning "wisp of hair") is a prefix given (meaning "wisp of hair") is a prefix given to high-altitude clouds (above 20,000 feet). to high-altitude clouds (above 20,000 feet).

• AltoAlto (meaning "high") is a prefix given to mid- (meaning "high") is a prefix given to mid-altitude clouds (between 6,000 and 20,000 altitude clouds (between 6,000 and 20,000 feet). There is no prefix for low-altitude feet). There is no prefix for low-altitude clouds. clouds. When clouds are by the ground When clouds are by the ground we call them fog. we call them fog.

• NimboNimbo (meaning "rain") as a prefix, or (meaning "rain") as a prefix, or nimbus added as a suffix, in a cloud name nimbus added as a suffix, in a cloud name indicates that the cloud can produce indicates that the cloud can produce precipitation (rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation (rain, snow, or other forms of falling water). falling water).

• CumuloCumulo (meaning "heap") refers to piled- (meaning "heap") refers to piled-up clouds. up clouds.

• StratoStrato (meaning "layer") refers to flat, (meaning "layer") refers to flat, wide, layered clouds wide, layered clouds

Type of Cloud(Genus)

Abbreviation Appearance Composition Altitude (height)

Cumulo-nimbus=Thunderheads

Sb Can cause lightning, thunder, hail, strong rains, strong

winds, and tornadoes

Near ground up to 75,000 feet(Vertical clouds)

Cirro-stratus Cs Thin, wispy, appears in sheets. Located above thunderheads

Above 18,000 feet(High-altitude clouds)

Cirrus Ci Thin, wispy, filamentous, or curly

Mostly composed of ice crystals

Above 18,000 feet(High-altitude clouds)

Cirro-cumulus Cc Small, puffy, patchy and/or with a wavelike appearance

Above 18,000 feet(High-altitude clouds)

Alto-cumulus Ac Medium-sized puffy, patchy, scattered clouds - often in

linear bands

6,500 - 20,000 feet(Middle-altitude clouds)

Alto-stratus As Thin, uniform 6,500 - 20,000 feet(Middle-Alttude clouds)

Strato-cumulus Sc Broad and flat on the bottom, puffy on top,

Below 6,500 feet(Low-altitude clouds)

Cumulus Cu Puffy and piled up. Below 6,500 feet(Vertical clouds)

Stratus St Uniform, flat, thick to thin layered clouds will ill-defined

edges

Mostly composed of

liquid droplets

Below 6,500 feet(Low-altitude clouds)

Nimbo-stratus Ns Uniform, dark, flat, low, featureless clouds that produce precipitation

Mostly composed of

liquid droplets

Below 6,500 feet(Low-altitude clouds)

Fog Very low stratus clouds

Mostly composed of

liquid droplets

In contact with the gound(Ground-hugging clouds)

ReviewReview

• Three types of cloudsThree types of clouds

• Altitude each is foundAltitude each is found

• Characteristics of eachCharacteristics of each