Tag: the atmosphere

The process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere and land is known as water cycle. In the water cycle, water from oceans, lakes, swamps, rivers, plants can turn into water vapour. Water vapour condenses into millions of tiny droplets that form clouds. Clouds lose their water as rain or snow, which is called precipitation. Precipitation is either absorbed into the ground or runs off into rivers. Plants take up the water that was absorbed into the ground. Plants lose water from their surfaces as vapour that goes back into the atmosphere. Water that runs off into rivers flows into ponds, lakes, or oceans where it evaporates back into the atmosphere. This cycle continues.

Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. 

A  vernal pool basin will experience inundation from rain/precipitation, followed by desiccation from evapotranspiration. These conditions are commonly associated with a Mediterranean climate. Most pools are dry for at least part of the year and fill with the winter rains, spring snowmelts, and rising water tables. Some pools may remain at least partially filled with water over the course of a year or more, but all vernal pools dry up periodically.

The state of atmosphere over an area at any point of time is known as weather. It is the state of the atmosphere over short periods of time. Weather can change from hour to hour, day to day, month to month or even year to year.

Following are the major elements of weather: -

1. Temperature
2. Pressure
3. Humidity
4. Precipitation
5. Wind

• Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. Temperature, humidity, and visibility are the atmospheric phenomena hence part of the weather.
• Sunlight is independent of the atmosphere, thus option D is correct.

Cover of clouds in portion of the sky visible from the observation point is known as cloud cover. Weather observer or meteorologists estimates the amount of cloud cover in sky. Cloud cover is an important factor which decides the weather of an area. The amount of cloud cover in the sky is measured in units called oktas or eight for meteorological purposes. Each okta represents one eighth of the sky covered by cloud.

The process of changing of water from the liquid state to the gaseous state is called evaporation. It occurs every day in natural and man-made environments. It occurs most often around the areas which are situated near water bodies. It is the most important process in case of water cycle because the water from water bodies goes into atmosphere through the process of evaporation. The rate of evaporation increases with the increase in the temperature.

The amount of water vapor in the air is known as humidity. It can make hot temperatures even more unbearable than they already are. It affects both weather as well as climate. It also affects global climate change. Both low humidity as well as high humidity is harmful for us. Humidity is of two types:- Absolute humidity and Relative humidity.

Hail is a small ball of ice in the atmosphere, especially at night. It is a result of precipitation. It is produced by intense thunderstorms when snow and rain coexists. As the snowflakes fall, liquid water freezes onto them. It forms ice pellets that continue to grow as more droplets accumulate. When the ball of ice becomes so large and heavy, they fall as hailstones.