Lesson plan
Cloud physics
Cloud physics is the study of the physical processes that lead to the formation, evolution and impacts of atmospheric clouds, including precipitation and cloud radiative effects. Clouds consist of particles that include liquid droplets, raindrops, ice particles made of pristine ice crystals, aggregates, graupel and hail. Cloud droplets can be a few micrometres in diameter, whilst graupel can be several millimetres, and hail can be larger still. The aggregate effect of these particles results in the properties of clouds we commonly observe, including their brightness (i.e. how they reflect or absorb sunlight), or precipitation development. Clouds can consist solely of liquid droplets (often called "warm" clouds) or ice particles (cold clouds), or a combination of both (mixed-phase clouds), along with microscopic particles of dust, smoke, or other matter, which can act as condensation nuclei. Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are necessary for cloud droplet formation at supersaturation values observed, allowing droplets to form as a result of the combined effects of the Kelvin effect and Raoult's law. The Kelvin effect describes the change in saturation vapour pressure due to a curved surface. Raoult's law describes how the vapor pressure is dependent on the amount of solute in a solution.…
Article summary
Cloud physics is the study of the physical processes that lead to the formation, evolution and impacts of atmospheric clouds, including precipitation and cloud radiative effects. Clouds consist of particles that include liquid droplets, raindrops, ice particles made of pristine ice crystals, aggregates, graupel and hail. Cloud droplets can be a few micrometres in diameter, whilst graupel can be several millimetres, and hail can be larger still. The aggregate effect of these particles results in the properties of clouds we commonly observe, including their brightness (i.e. how they reflect or absorb sunlight), or precipitation development. Clouds can consist solely of liquid droplets (often called "warm" clouds) or ice particles (cold clouds), or a combination of both (mixed-phase clouds), along with microscopic particles of dust, smoke, or other matter, which can act as condensation nuclei. Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are necessary for cloud droplet formation at supersaturation values observed, allowing droplets to form as a result of the combined effects of the Kelvin effect and Raoult's law. The Kelvin effect describes the change in saturation vapour pressure due to a curved surface. Raoult's law describes how the vapor pressure is dependent on the amount of solute in a solution.…
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.