adiabatic cooling

the process by which the temperature of an air mass decreases as the air mass rises and expands.


air mass

a large body of air throughout which temperature and moisture content are similar.


air pressure

weight of the atmosphere


atmosphere

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet.


Cloud

A collections of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, which forms when the air cools and condensation occurs.


condensation nuclei

A solid particle in the atmosphere that provides the surface on which condensation occurs.


dew point temperature

the temperature at which the rate of condensation equals the rate of evaporation


evaporate

a phase change from a liquid to a gas


precipitation

any form of water that falls to Earth's surface from the clouds


prevailing wind.

wind that moves in one dominate driection


saturated

unable to hold more water


vast

great in size or amount


water vapor

gaseous form of water