Questions for Cloud Development Web Activity
Questions for Cloud Development Web Activity
1. Set the dew point to 20°F. When the temperature is 35°F, what is the altitude of the cloud?
3400ft
At what temperature does a cloud form at 9500 feet?
62F
2. Set the temperature to 70°F. What happens to the altitude of the cloud as you raise the dew point from 20°F to 65°F?
Why?
The cloud base gets lower.
3. Based on your observations, what is more important to determining the altitude at which the cloud will form, the actual temperature or the relationship of the temperature and dew point?
Why?
The relationship of the temp and dew point.
4. Move the bottom 3 temperature dots (which are red) to the right (increasing the temperature), each about 10°C (one grid line). What happens to the cloud?
It grows and gets bigger.
Now move the bottom 2 dew point dots (which are blue) to the right, about 5°C. What happens when you increase the 3rd dew point dot 10°C (move it to the right)?
The cloud formation continues to grow.
What does this indicate to you?
That there is more moisture available in the air
5. Let's look at how temperature and dew point at higher altitudes affect the towering cumulus. Move the temperature dot at 300 mb pressure to about -50°C.
What happens?
The towering cumulus grows and starts to rain.
Now move the 3rd temperature dot from the bottom to 10°C.
What occurrence do you observe?
It stops raining and the cloud gets lower to the surface. Also, the towering stops.
What happens if you then increase the temperature at 300 mb pressure again?
Nothing happens.
6. Move the temperature dot at 700 mb pressure to about 10°C; it should be to the right of the pink line on the graph. What happens?
The cumulus cloud disappears and there is few clouds left.
Move it back to its original position, and continue going up the graph and one by one move each temperature dot to the right of the pink line and back. What happens to the cloud each time?
The cloud gets a little bit
1. Set the dew point to 20°F. When the temperature is 35°F, what is the altitude of the cloud?
3400ft
At what temperature does a cloud form at 9500 feet?
62F
2. Set the temperature to 70°F. What happens to the altitude of the cloud as you raise the dew point from 20°F to 65°F?
Why?
The cloud base gets lower.
3. Based on your observations, what is more important to determining the altitude at which the cloud will form, the actual temperature or the relationship of the temperature and dew point?
Why?
The relationship of the temp and dew point.
4. Move the bottom 3 temperature dots (which are red) to the right (increasing the temperature), each about 10°C (one grid line). What happens to the cloud?
It grows and gets bigger.
Now move the bottom 2 dew point dots (which are blue) to the right, about 5°C. What happens when you increase the 3rd dew point dot 10°C (move it to the right)?
The cloud formation continues to grow.
What does this indicate to you?
That there is more moisture available in the air
5. Let's look at how temperature and dew point at higher altitudes affect the towering cumulus. Move the temperature dot at 300 mb pressure to about -50°C.
What happens?
The towering cumulus grows and starts to rain.
Now move the 3rd temperature dot from the bottom to 10°C.
What occurrence do you observe?
It stops raining and the cloud gets lower to the surface. Also, the towering stops.
What happens if you then increase the temperature at 300 mb pressure again?
Nothing happens.
6. Move the temperature dot at 700 mb pressure to about 10°C; it should be to the right of the pink line on the graph. What happens?
The cumulus cloud disappears and there is few clouds left.
Move it back to its original position, and continue going up the graph and one by one move each temperature dot to the right of the pink line and back. What happens to the cloud each time?
The cloud gets a little bit