1. Humidity = amount of water vapor in the air
Condensation
gas → liquid
Humidity = amount of water vapor in the air

2. Cloud Formation Saturation depends on the temperature of air: cold air
room temperature
hot air
less capacity to hold
water vapor
holds about 1% of
greater capacity to hold water vapor
atmosphere molecules moving slowly -
less space between them
atmosphere molecules moving quickly -
more space between them
Relative Humidity = ratio of water vapor in air relative to how much it can hold
Dew point = temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation

3. Drawing dew point!

4. Saturation = point at which air holds as much water vapor as it can
Cloud Formation
Saturation = point at which air holds as much water vapor as it can
Not saturated Saturated Beyond Saturated
it could hold more it can’t hold this much

5. Cloud Classification Cloud Shapes Shape Feature Nimbus
Low, gray rain clouds
Cumulus
Flat Base, rising dome = Califlower
Stratus
Sheets or layers
Cirrus
Thin, wispy, ice crystals = high

6. Cloud Formation
Condensation nuclei = small particles (dust, particles, spores, aerosols) around which cloud droplets can form
if density is high enough
it becomes visible
air cools as it rises
if gravity overtakes
it becomes precipitation

7. Processes that lift air
1. Orographic Lifting
2. Frontal Wedging
When mountains block the flow of air forcing it up.
When warm air is lifted at a front, two different densities
3. Convergence
4. Convective Lifting
When air flows together and rises, similar densities
When unequal surface heating causes pockets of air to rise, parking lot next to park

8. Cloud Project Separate sections to keep it organized! Name of Cloud
Explanation of the Root words within the name
Characteristics of the Shape of the Cloud
Location of the Cloud in the Atmosphere
Does the Cloud Produce Precipitation?
Creative Rendering of the Cloud - Color, Materials, etc.
Picture of You Interacting with Cloud - Airplane, Hot Air Ballon, Superhero...etc
Cloud Shapes
Shape
Feature
Nimbus
Low, gray rain clouds
Cumulus
Puffy or lumpy
Stratus
Sheets or layers
Cirrus
Thin, wispy, or stringy