Atmospheric Moisture and Cloud Formation by Colleen Rae Regional Training Centre
Atmospheric moisture Water vapour is an important atmospheric gas Water Vapour is the source of moisture for:- cloud development resultant precipitation in solid and liquid forms Composition of the Atmosphere Nitrogen (N2) 75% Oxygen (O2) 23% Argon (Ar) 1% Water vapor (H2O) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Neon (Ne) Helium (He) 1% Krypton (Kr) Hydrogen (H) Ozone (O3) Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
Atmospheric moisture <1% Water vapor (H2O) MESOPAUSE STRATOPAUSE TROPOPAUSE THERMOSPHERE MESOSPHERE STRATOSPHERE 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 KM oC -113 -93 -73 -53 -33 -13 7 27 TROPOSPHERE <1% Water vapor (H2O) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Neon (Ne) Helium (He) Krypton (Kr) Hydrogen (H) Ozone (O3) Within the first 6 km of the troposphere Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
Cloud appearance Cloud shapes and forms are the expression of the way in which the air has risen, their height above the ground, if they are composed of water or ice crystals the location of the sun Cloud size is influenced by heat seasons bodies of water mountain ranges condensation nuclei Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How the atmosphere gets saturated Convective development Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How the atmosphere gets saturated Convective development Orographic ascent Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How the atmosphere gets saturated Convective development Orographic ascent Frontal uplift Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How the atmosphere gets saturated Convective development Orographic ascent Frontal uplift Mechanical turbulence Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How the atmosphere gets saturated Convective development Orographic ascent Frontal uplift Mechanical turbulence Slow widespread ascent Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
In Summary Convective development Orographic uplift Frontal uplift Mechanical turbulence Slow wide-spread ascent Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
How clouds are named Cloud genera – height of the cloud base above the ground Cloud specie – the shape of the cloud – the internal structure of the cloud Cloud variety – the macroscopic elements of the cloud – the degree of transparency of the cloud Supplementary cloud features Accessory clouds Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
10 Basic Cloud Genera Cirrus Cirrocumulus Cirrostratus Cumulonimbus Low level Middle level High level Cumulonimbus 15 km Cirrus Cirrocumulus Cirrostratus Altostratus Nimbostratus 6 km Altocumulus Cumulus Stratocumulus 2 km Stratus Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
Convective cloud appearance Cumulus and Cumulonimbus Heaps or piles of clouds formed as buoyant warm air rises by convection. Cumulus and Cumulonimbus Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
Stratiform Cloud appearance Widespread clouds either with rounded shapes or a smooth appearance. Stratocumulus, Stratus, Altostratus, Altocumulus, Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
Cirriform cloud appearance Fibrous or wispy clouds composed of ice crystals Cirrus, Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus Document Reference: RTC-PRE-055.4 Date of last revision: 22 August 2017
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