Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

What must occur before clouds can form?

• Water vapor must get warmer.
• Water vapor must lose heat energy.
• Precipitation must begin to fall and run off.
• Transpiration must add water vapor to the atmosphere.

Which most accurately explains the way clouds form?

• Warm water vapor hits warm air, changing the gas into a liquid, and forming a cloud.
• Warm water vapor hits cold air, changing the gas into a liquid, and forming a cloud.
• Warm water vapor hits warm air, changing the gas into a solid, and forming a cloud.
• Warm water vapor hits cold air, changing the gas into a solid, and forming a cloud.

Which will most likely form during the condensation process?

• rain
• hail
• clouds
• runoff

Which part of the water cycle is occurring when warm, moist air cools and begins forming clouds?

• condensation
• evaporation
• transpiration
• precipitation

In the cloud marked with a question mark, what process in the water cycle is taking place?

• evaporation
• condensation
• precipitation
• runoff

Which of the following best explains how clouds form due to the rain shadow effect?

• Warm, wet air from the ocean is blown to the top of a mountain where it cools and condenses.
• Warm, dry air is blown to the top of a mountain where it cools and evaporates.
• Warm, wet air is blown to the top of a mountain where it warms and condenses.
• Cold, wet air is blown to the tops of a mountain where it cools and freezes.

Which of the following best explains why Ireland and England have high average annual precipitation?

• Air that is warmed by the Gulf stream meets cold, arctic air and evaporates, creating a cloudy, rainy climate.
• Air that is cooled by the Gulf Stream meets cold, arctic air and evaporates, creating a cloudy, rainy climate.
• Air that is warmed by the Gulf Stream meets cold, arctic air and condenses, creating a cloudy, rain climate.
• Air that is cooled by the Gulf Stream meets warm, arctic air and condenses, creating a cloudy, rainy climate.