Why is the vertical movement of air critical to the formation of clouds and precipitation? What role do adiabatic temperature changes play in these processes?

  1. In stable clouds, there is very little vertical motion, not enough even to generate small water droplets, and this thus escapes as a mild drizzle of precipitation.
  2. It is necessary that ice formation requires the occurrence of precipitation from the cloud from which falling rain must be well above freezing levels. This could only be possible in the event the robust vertical motion induces turbulence in the main cloud, thus generating rain and resultant precipitation.

Coming to the second part of the question is the role of adiabatic temperature. It could be said that there are basically two ways in which cloud formations could take place. In the first place, air containing water vapor is chilled to its saturation position until condensation takes place. This cooling procedure is initiated when hot air accosts a cool surface, one that is cooled by radiation or as air affected by adiabatic expansion.

Secondly, clouds are formed when static air takes up additional water vapor until its saturation point is reached. In this case, the universal reason for cloud formation is through the process of adiabatic expansion.

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Academic.Tips. 2022. "Why is the vertical movement of air critical to the formation of clouds and precipitation? What role do adiabatic temperature changes play in these processes?" December 14, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-the-vertical-movement-of-air-critical-to-the-formation-of-clouds-and-precipitation-what-role-do-adiabatic-temperature-changes-play-in-these-processes/.

1. Academic.Tips. "Why is the vertical movement of air critical to the formation of clouds and precipitation? What role do adiabatic temperature changes play in these processes?" December 14, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-the-vertical-movement-of-air-critical-to-the-formation-of-clouds-and-precipitation-what-role-do-adiabatic-temperature-changes-play-in-these-processes/.


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Academic.Tips. "Why is the vertical movement of air critical to the formation of clouds and precipitation? What role do adiabatic temperature changes play in these processes?" December 14, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-the-vertical-movement-of-air-critical-to-the-formation-of-clouds-and-precipitation-what-role-do-adiabatic-temperature-changes-play-in-these-processes/.

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