Okay...So I have a Meteorology Exam due tonight and there is one question that I am stuck on. I don't understand exactly what my professor is asking let alone how to answer it. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.
Describe the formation of precipitation by discussing the cold cloud process in detail by including factors such as: temperature constraints, ice nuclei, formation of ice crystals, three phases of water, migration of water from droplets to ice crystals, growth by accretion, new ice crystals, etc.
2007-03-25 13:00:34 · 4 answers · asked by brainstewie 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Cold cloud process in a nut shell...
temp constraints: Supercooled water droplets will exist with no ice crystals at temperatures greater than -4C, the likely hood of ice crystals existing in the cloud greatly increase as temps cool from there. Around -20C it is likely that there is ice present in the cloud. Once ice forms it will remain there until temperatures warm to above 0C.
ice nuclei: needed to initiation formation of ice crystals
formation of ice crystals: A rising parcel of air cools to saturation (gas --> liquid) and forms a cloud. Cloud droplets will continue to cool as their environment cools, if they drop below 0C they are called 'supercooled'. Without an ice nuclei present supercooled water droplets can exist to as cool as -40C (then ice nuclei are no longer required). When supercooled droplets are seeded with an ice nuclei ice crystal will form (liquid --> solid).
3 phase of water: gas (water vapor), liquid (rain/clouds), solid (ice/snow)
migration of water from droplets to ice crystals: Due to the Bergeron Process ice crystals will grow due to evaporation of cloud droplets (liquid --> gas --> solid).
growth by accretion: ice crystals in the cloud (aka snowflake) colide with other ice crystals and stick together. Most common with dendritic (6-pointed) snowflakes due to the jagged shape.
new ice crystals: some ice crystals fracture and the pieces then form new ice crystals. One of the best ice nuclei is ice itself.
2007-03-25 13:50:42 · answer #1 · answered by buckj04 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. The cold cloud process of precipitation aka the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process happens only in clouds colder than 0 deg C. We begin with only supercooled liquid water droplets in a cloudy air parcel. As the parcel rises and cools within the cloud, some ice nuclei might become activated causing ice crystals to form and grow. Now both ice crystals and liquid droplets continue to grow, because both are in a supersaturated environment. As these grow, water vapor, the third phase of water in this process, is removed from the air, reducing the supersaturation. Only when there is between 1 to 10 nuclei per liter will the ice nuclei be able to scavenge most of the condensed water before precipitating out. This pretty much describes the process. You may have to fill in a few details if any.
2007-03-25 13:32:08 · answer #2 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your right, that's a poorly asked question. hmmm. Man, this is more like a paper than an answer to an exam question.
These sites may help.
2007-03-25 13:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by Robert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-11-23 15:27:18 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋