Water Cycle/Clouds/Relative Humidity
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Created by:
mrmichaelmiller on March 7, 2011
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18 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 water cycle | The continuous movement of water from water sources into the air, onto and over land, into the ground, and back to the water sources. |
| precipitation | Occurs when rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls from the clouds onto the Earth's surface. |
| infiltration | The downward movement of water from the land surface into soil or porous rock. |
| runoff | Is water, usually from precipitation, that flows across land and collects in rivers, streams, and eventually the ocean. |
| transpiration | The process by which plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves. This accounts for 10% of all evaporation. |
| evaporation | Occurs when liquid water changes into water vapor. Approximately 80% of this process comes from the oceans. This is more intense with warmer temperatures. |
| condensation | Occurs when water vapor cools and changes back into liquid droplets. This is how clouds form. |
| dew point | The temperature to which air must cool to be completely saturated. Water vapor needs a place to condense on. |
| relative humidity | Is the amount of moisture the air contains compared with the maximum amount it can hold at a particular temperature. The higher temperature, the more water the air can hold. |
| how to calculate relative humidity | (Actual water in the air / Maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature ) x 100 = relative humidity |
| cloud | As water vapor rises and cools, it becomes saturated (full). It then condenses onto tiny dust or smoke particles as water droplet or ice. This forms when there are millions of these. |
| cumulus | A puffy white cloud. Usually fair weather clouds. This is the Latin word for a heap or a pile |
| stratus | These clouds cover large areas and form in layers. This is the Latin word that means "to spread out." |
| cirrus | These clouds are thin, feathery and are found at high altitudes. They may indicate bad weather is coming. This is the Latin word for a tuft or curl of hair. |
| nimbus/nimbo | A prefix or suffix that means the cloud produces precipitation. |
| strato | A prefix that means the cloud is at a low altitude. |
| alto | A prefix that means the cloud is at a middle altitude. |
| cirro | A prefix that means the cloud is at a high altitude. |
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