Archives: flyingtheory

• Relative Humidity is a relative measurement of how full of water the air is.
• Dew point is an absolute measurement of how much water the air contains

• Gas Condensates to Liquid. Liquid Freezes to solid.
• Solid Melts to Liquid. Liquid Evaporates to Gas.
• Solid directly to Gas is Sublimation.
• Gas directly to Solid is Deposition.

• Cooled – Gas Condensates to Liquid. Liquid Freezes to solid.
• Heated – Solid Melts to Liquid. Liquid Evaporates to Gas.
• Rapid Heating – Solid directly to Gas is Sublimation.
• Rapid Cooling – Gas directly to Solid is Deposition.

8.16.12 Describe each of the following processes with regard to the changes of state of water:
(a) condensation;
(b) evaporation;
(c) deposition;
(d) sublimation;
(e) melting;
(f) freezing.

Requirements for cloud to form:

• Saturated Air – Temperature equals Dew Point or below.
• Condensation Nuclei – Dust, smoke etc.

Lifting Processes:

• Orthographic – mountains.
• Frontal Wedging – rising over cool air at fronts.
• Convergence – two air masses meet
• Localized lifting – lifting from thermals and rises.

Types of Clouds:

• Cirrus – High thin wispy clouds.
• Cumulus – Puffy smaller clouds.
• Stratus – Layered clouds, sheets.
• Cirro(prefix) – Added to cloud name, indicates high altitude.
• Alto(prefix) – Added to cloud name, indicates mid altitude.
• Nimbo(prefix) – Added to cloud name, indicates dark colour and rain.

8.22.2 Describe the cloud formation process.

8.22.10 Describe the following lifting mechanisms found in the atmosphere:
(a) orographic;
(b) convection (including ‘thermals’);
(c) turbulence;
(d) widespread ascent (including fronts)

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).

8.24.4 Describe the following types of precipitation:
(a) rain;
(b) drizzle;
(c) snow;
(d) sleet;
(e) hail

• Air pressure decreases with altitude.
• Each parcel of air increases in size, giving particles more room which is a decrease in temperature.

• Air is warmed by the earths surface. Air will generally cool as it gets further away.

8.10.8 Define ‘pressure lapse rate’

• Radiation – The Sun heats Earth’s surface.
• Conduction – The hot surface warms the air touching it.

Convection

• Heated air rises. Rising causes the air to cool.
• Cooled air now sinks.
• Air is reheated and rises, this cycle repeats.

8.8.12 Describe the transfer of heat in the atmosphere with reference to the processes of:
(a) conduction;
(b) convection;
(c) advection

• Liquid height in the Barometer will decrease until inside and the atmosphere outside both have the same pressure.
• As atmospheric pressure increases, the height of the liquid increases.
• The height of the Liquid is measured against a scale, giving us our reading.

• Particles in the air are pulled towards the earth due to gravity. This is atmospheric pressure.
• The higher we are in altitude, the fewer air particles are left above us. Creating less atmospheric pressure.

8.10.2 Define ‘atmospheric pressure’

• Troposphere – Taller at the equator. 9 – 17 km or 30,000 ft to 60,000 ft tall
• Stratosphere – 50 km or 150,000 ft tall

8.6.2 Describe the structure of the troposphere and lower stratosphere