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Lecture 11 (SU5) - Part 2.PDF (1)

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7 views

Lecture 11 (SU5) - Part 2.PDF (1)

Uploaded by

sharlotteborolelo26
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3. CUMULUS Tall cloud.

These clouds form when conditionally unstable air


is lifted, usually through convection.
The have small cauliflower tops, are
brilliant white and have flat bases.

As vertical movement (convection)


continues, the vertical extent of these
clouds grow. This growth can
continue past the level at which
water freezes.
Up until this level the cloud
consists of droplets, but when
the cloud temperature reaches
-10°C, or less, the droplets
begin to freeze.

The cloud then becomes a


mixture of water droplets and
ice crystals.
These clouds have well-defined edges since water
is continuously evaporating off their surface.

The flat base of the cloud coincides with the


height at which dew point temperature is reached.
4. CUMULONIMBUS
Tall cloud.

These clouds develop from tall


cumulus clouds.

They occur once the top of the


cloud starts to freeze and
strong winds stretch the top of
the cloud to form the
distinctive anvil.
The base of the cloud is very
dark grey in appearance.

They are associated with


violent thunderstorms, strong
wind, heavy rain, and
frequently produce hail.
CUMULUS

CUMULONIMBUS
Special Clouds
Lastly, we have special types of clouds which don’t fit into the other categories. One
example of a special cloud is a contrail cloud.

These clouds don’t form naturally! They are formed by high-flying jet airplanes. They are still
clouds because they are made up of water droplets from the exhaust of jet engines.

Here’s a link to a fun cloud matching game! https://scied.ucar.edu/clouds-memory-game


Mammatus cloud

Lenticular cloud

Funnel cloud - tornado


PRECIPITATION TYPES

1. DRIZZLE
2. RAIN
3. SHOWERS
4. THUNDERSHOWERS
5. SOLID PRECIPITATION
6. FOG, MIST, SMOG
7. DEW & FROST
Consists of very small drops (less than 0.5 mm in diameter)
which, on account of their size, appear to float following
even the slightest motion of air.
1. DRIZZLE
Rain is precipitation of water
droplets of substantial size.

It falls from some type of layered


cloud (stratus, nimbostratus,
stratocumulus) where a moist layer
of air is forces to rise slowly in a
stable atmosphere.

It can occur as either Slight,


Moderate or Heavy rain. 2. RAIN
3. SHOWERS Characterised by the sudden onset
and determination of precipitation.

They are generally of short


duration and the fair periods
between showers are usually
associated with a clearing if the
sky.

Showers can only fall from


convective clouds (cumulus,
stratocumulus).
4. THUNDERSHOWERS These are showers associated with thunder and
lightning and can only fall from convective clouds
(cumulus, cumulonimbus).

They differ from showers in that the clouds from which


they fall have greater vertical extent.
5. SOLID PRECIPITATION

5A. SNOW Consists of crystals of


white ice generally in
flakes or of light feathery
structure.

It can fall from either


layered or convective
clouds and required that
freezing level be close to
the ground.
5B. SLEET

Rain and snow falling together, or snow melting as it falls.


5C. HAIL

Ice balls or stones ranging in diameter from that of a medium sized raindrop
to 25 mm or more.
Surface temperatures are usually above freezing when hail occurs.
6. FOG, MIST, SMOG

Fog usually develops along the coast as a result of


relatively warm air moving over cold ocean water.

It is commonly experienced along the western coast


of SA and is referred to as advection fog.
All kinds of fog require a slight wind
(0.5 knots) in order to mix the
surface air with the air occurring at
higher levels.

When condensation occurs in a


shallow layer, this is usually referred
to as mist. When either fog or mist
mixes with industrial pollution, it
becomes smog.
7. DEW & FROST On calm and windless nights,
condensation often takes place on
cold surfaces.

The condensation is known as dew.

If the temperatures are below


freezing frost will form.

Black frost occurs when the air is too


dry for frost to develop and the
liquid inside plants cells freeze.

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