How does air in motion affect cloud formation?

How does air in motion affect cloud formation?

As air rises it expands because pressure decreases with altitude. Kinetic energy is converted to potential energy and the parcel temperature decreases, and the relative humidity increases. The two main large scale lifting processes that result in cloud formation are convection and advection of air.

Do clouds form on the leeward side of mountains?

The side of the mountains where the wind leaves the area is called the leeward side. Another way that mountains cause cloud formation is when air rises because the mountain is warmer than the surrounding air and causes the air to rise.

Does rising air stop clouds from forming?

Condensation involves the release of latent heat. This allows the parcel of air to rise until all of the ‘surplus’ water vapor has condensed and all the latent heat has been released. Therefore, the main reason which stops clouds growing upwards is the end of the release of latent heat through the condensation process.

What would the temperature be if the air returned to sea level on the leeward side of a mountain?

The leeward slope winds can raise temperature as much as 1 degree Celsius for every 100-meter drop in elevation (5.5 degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet).

Which clouds form through vertical air movements?

Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds are classified as clouds of vertical extent. They form as air moves vertically, cooling until the water vapor in the air condenses. This vertical movement is the key to understanding the flat-bottomed character of these clouds.

What causes upward movement of air in a cloud?

This vertical upward movement of air is often caused by convection. This in turn, produces a greater amount of space between the atoms and molecules making the air less dense which causes it to rise like a hot air balloon. This rising of the air is convection.

Why do clouds form as air moves over a mountain Brainly?

Some clouds, such as lenticular and stratus clouds, form when wind blows into the side of a mountain range or other terrain and is forced upward, higher in the atmosphere. The side of the mountains that the wind blows towards is called the windward side. The air cools as it rises, and eventually clouds form.

Are clouds more likely to form on the windward or leeward side of mountains Why?

As the wind blows across a mountain range, air rises and cools and clouds can form on the windward side. This is why windward sides of mountain ranges tend to get heavy precipitation. When the air sinks on the leeward side of the mountain range, it is usually much drier and warmer than it was to begin with.

Why do clouds form in rising air?

When air rises in the atmosphere it gets cooler and is under less pressure. When air cools, it’s not able to hold all of the water vapor it once was. Air also can’t hold as much water when air pressure drops. The vapor becomes small water droplets or ice crystals and a cloud is formed.

What happens when air becomes warmer and the drier as it moves down the leeward side?

What happens when air becomes warmer and drier as it moves down the leeward side? It rises up the atmosphere. Q21. Since this is the side of the mountain facing the wind, it is called the windward side.

Why is the vertical movement of air critical to the formation of clouds and precipitation quizlet?

As the air gains altitude it cools adiabadically and the humidity increases to 100% to form clouds and under the right conditions precipitation. This does not result in an increase in air density rather an increase in vertical motion which carries that mass away.

How does cloud development occur?

Cloud Development – Topographic Lifting Simply, air is forced up and over a topographical barrier -such as a hill or mountain The windward side will be cloudy and wet as air ascends The leeward side will be warmer and drier as the air descends – often called a rain shadow

What causes clouds to form near weather fronts?

In other words, the warmer air mass is forced to rise over the colder air mass. As air from the warm air mass rises, it cools, leading to the development of clouds and maybe precipitation. Large areas of clouds and precipitation are common near weather fronts.

How does the wind affect the temperature of the clouds?

With the moisture wrung out through condensation the wind now pushes the air down the leeward side of the hill and it warms even more as it compresses , the warmer air with less moisture forces ( higher dew point) the clouds to evaporate.

How does the weather change on the leeward side of mountains?

The cold air mass starts to absorb heat and becomes warm and dry as it moves down toward the windward side of the mountain. C. The cold air mass starts to absorb heat and becomes warm and dry as it moves down toward the leeward side of the mountain.