Archives: flyingtheory

Cirrus – High level cloud. Thin wispy structure.

Cumulus – Low level cloud. Fluffy white cotton ball shape.

Stratus – Commonly low level. Sheet or layer of cloud. Hazy white or gray mass.

Nimbo-form – Rain clouds.

• Nimbostratus – Stratus cloud which have precipitation.
• Cumulonimbus – Thunderstorm clouds. Cumulus with precipitation.

8.22.8 Describe the meaning of the following cloud terms:
(a) cumulus or cumulo (prefix);
(b) stratus or strato (prefix);
(c) alto (prefix);
(d) nimbo (prefix) or nimbus (suffix);
(e) cirrus or cirro (prefix).

Formation of cloud requires moist rising air and some dust/salt/smoke particles to form around.

Cirrus – High level cloud. Thin wispy structure.

Cumulus – Low level cloud. Fluffy white cotton ball shape.

Stratus – Commonly low level. Sheet or layer of cloud. Hazy white or gray mass.

8.22.2 Describe the cloud formation process.

• An inversion is where temperature increases with altitude.
• At night the earths cool surface can create a Radiation Inversion.
• Cold air over water moving over land can create an Advection Inversion.

8.20.2 Explain the factors involved in the development of a:
(a) radiation inversion;
(b) turbulence inversion;
(c) subsidence inversion;
(d) frontal inversion

Warm moist air rises over a mountain.

Air expands and cools adiabatically on the way up. Reaches dew point and rains.

Air is compressed and warms adiabatically on the way down. Air is now warm and very dry

8.32.2 Define the Föhn wind.
8.32.4 In Föhn wind conditions, describe the typical weather:
(a) to windward of the mountain range;
(b) above the mountain range;
(c) on the lee side of the mountain range

Sea Breeze (Day):

• Air is heated over coast – Becomes low pressure and rises.
• Air is cooled over sea – Becomes high pressure and sinks.
• High pressure moves to low pressure, creating Sea Breeze.

Land Breeze (Night):

• Air is cooled over coast – Becomes high pressure and sinks.
• Air is Heated over sea – Becomes low pressure and rises.
• High pressure moves to low pressure, creating Land Breeze.

8.14.2 Describe the development of sea breezes with reference to:
(a) horizontal and vertical limits around New Zealand;
(b) timing of the occurrence;
(c) average strength of the sea breeze;
(d) associated cloud and precipitation;
(e) associated turbulence;

• Expanding air cools. Compressing heats.
• Dry Adiabatic lapse rate – rate dry air cools as it rises.
• Wet Adiabatic lapse rate – rate saturated air(cloud) cools as it rises.
• Rising dry air will cool until it meets the dew point. Becoming cloud and then cooling at the wet rate.
• Air will stop rising when it reaches air matching its own temperature.

8.18.6 Describe what is meant by ‘environment lapse rate’ (ELR).

8.18.10 Outline the term ‘adiabatic process’

• When a gas is compressed its temperature increases.
• When it expands its temperature decreases.

8.18.10 Outline the term ‘adiabatic process’