GGR217H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: 45Th Parallel North, Groundwater Recharge, Cloud Condensation Nuclei
Document Summary
Liquid = rain: may have an immediate effect on water balance. Snow consists of ice crystals (snowflakes) air and water. Significant portion of precipitations falls as snow above 45 degrees n latitude: largely determines the availability of water to vegetation especially snowmelts in spring helps vegetation, amount and timing in streamflow and groundwater recharge. (cid:374)ow (cid:373)odified e(cid:374)ergy (cid:271)ala(cid:374)(cid:272)e of earth"s surfa(cid:272)e. Impact reflected sunlight (albedo can also have impact) Snow formation requires: presence of water vapor, saturation (further explained in lecture 4 and 5, temperature less than 0 degrees c if not it will just be water, presence of condensation nuclei (ash, salt anything) Nucleation ice crystals snow: three ways for snow to form, vapor deposition on crystals (sublimations, water droplets adhere to crystals (riming, crystals adhere to each other (aggregation) Snowflakes are the aggregation of many ice crystals. All cool or cold clouds produce snow. Temperature of the air below the cloud determines the eventual type of precipitation.
