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Water and Carbon Cycles

Cloud formation and theories of precipitation

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Adiabatic cooling, dry adiabatic lapse rate and dew point.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What three conditions are needed for precipitation to form?

Key term

Define adiabatic cooling.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What three conditions are needed for precipitation to form?

    Model answer

    Air must be forced to rise, cool to its dew point and condense onto nuclei. Droplets must then grow large enough to fall against the updraught.

  2. 2

    Define adiabatic cooling.

    Model answer

    Adiabatic cooling is the fall in temperature of a rising air parcel as it expands under lower pressure. Heat is not exchanged with the surrounding air.

  3. 3

    State the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

    Model answer

    The dry adiabatic lapse rate is about 10 °C for every kilometre of ascent. Unsaturated air cools at this rate as it rises.

  4. 4

    Why is the saturated adiabatic lapse rate lower than the dry rate?

    Model answer

    Condensation releases latent heat into the rising parcel, which offsets some of the cooling. The saturated rate is therefore around 5 to 6 °C per kilometre.

  5. 5

    What is the dew point?

    Model answer

    The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins. Relative humidity reaches 100 per cent at that temperature.

  6. 6

    What are condensation nuclei, and why are they needed?

    Model answer

    Condensation nuclei are microscopic particles of dust, salt, smoke or pollution suspended in the air. Water vapour needs a surface to condense onto, and nuclei provide it.

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