Why are condensation nuclei important in the atmosphere quiz?

Nuclei, solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, are necessary to form cloud droplets, which, when large enough, form a cloud. Cloud condensation nuclei promote condensation of water vapor at temperatures above and below the freezing point of water.

How do condensation nuclei particles enter the atmosphere?

Most condensation nuclei are produced by natural and man-made fires over land and by wave action over oceans. When mixed with the more hygroscopic material, dust and soil particles blown into the atmosphere are also sources of nuclei. See also nucleation.

What role do hygroscopic nuclei play in the atmosphere?

Such hygroscopic salt particles can act as excellent condensation nuclei. They assume that the extraterrestrial meteors, upon entering the atmosphere, dissolve into fine dust particles that act as ice nuclei in the formation of cloud and precipitation particles.

What do condensation nuclei have to do with clouds?

Cloud condensation nuclei or CCNs (also known as cloud seeds) are small particles, typically 0.2 µm, or 1/100 the size of a cloud drop, on which water vapor condenses. The concept of cloud condensation nuclei is used in cloud seeding, which attempts to encourage precipitation by seeding the air with condensation nuclei.

What important role do deposit nuclei play in the formation of a snowflake?

What important role do deposit nuclei play in the formation of a snowflake? When the temperature is below freezing, aerosols act as deposition nuclei. Water molecules can bind to it and grow into a composition of ice crystals.

Why are condensation nuclei important to the formation of clouds?

The truth is that cloud formation is not as simple as it first appears, because to understand clouds you must first understand something called condensation nuclei. Condensation nuclei are small particles in the air on which water vapor condenses, and they are the key to making clouds, fog, haze, rain and other forms of precipitation.

What happens when water vapor touches a condensation nucleus?

The condensation nuclei provide this surface. The water vapor molecules touch the nuclei and condense into liquid form, forming your cloud drop. As more and more cloud droplets form, the cloud grows larger and larger. Eventually the drops become too heavy and are dragged down as precipitation.

How big are the particles in a condensation nucleus?

Make no mistake, these particles are very small and you probably don't even notice them. The average condensation nuclei are only about 1/100 the size of a cloud drop. Because nuclei are made of different materials, they also differ in their ability to form clouds (or fog).

Which is the most efficient form of condensation?

climate: Cloud formation. Among the highly effective condensation nuclei are sea salt particles and those particles produced by combustion (eg natural forest fires and man-made fires). Many of the larger condensation nuclei over land consist of ammonium sulfate.