cloud physics

Question 1

What make up clouds

Answer 1

water droplets and or ice crystals

Question 2

how do clouds form

Answer 2

clouds form as a result of air being cooled to its dew point, the condensation of water onto clouds condensation nuclei. Clouds form as a result of the saturation of air. RH= 100%

Question 3

Hygroscopic molecules grow/shrink with changes to what

Answer 3

relative humidity.

Question 4

define effloresence

Answer 4

water migrates to the surface of a particle and evaporatesd

Question 5

define deliquesence

Answer 5

dry, crystalline particles absorbing water vapor from the atmosphere form aqueous solution

Question 6

What are the three steps of activation

Answer 6

1. RH> 100%, exceeds the critical supersaturation
   2.some aerosol particles, acting as CCN, take up loads of water and grow to much larger sizes, particle is said to be activated
   3.continues as a cloud droplet until its water either evaporates or it falls down as precipitation

Question 7

Raoult’s law

Answer 7

The presence of a solute in a solvent makes it harder for water to evaporate from a particles surface, lowering saturation vapor pressure. This favors nucleation, net condensation, and activation.

Question 8

Kelvin Effect

Answer 8

The curvature of a particle plays a heavy influence on the strength between molecules. The higher the curvature the weaker the intermolecular bonds, the easier it is for water to evaporate, increasing saturation vapor pressure. Larger particles simulate plane surfaces, far less of the kelvin effect. The samller the particle, the greater the curvature, and the easier it is for water to evaporate.

Question 9

kohler equation

Answer 9

describes the equillibrium between droplet and water vapor, combining the raoult and kelvin effects. as diameter increases, kelvin effect decreases.
when the critical saturation ratio is exceeded, droplets are no longer bound by equillibrium, they can grow beyond the critical diameter and form activated droplets. this is what happens when clouds form.

Question 10

whats the difference between clean clouds and polluted clouds

Answer 10

clean clouds: fewer particels, larger droplets, efficient precipitation

polluted cloud: more particles, smaller droplets, less drizzle. higher albedo.