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TAMU ATMO 201 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025
Dew - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔liquid condensation on a
surface; common during cold, calm nights; long wave
cooling of air to dew point
Frost - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔similar to dew but from
deposition rather than condensation; (vapor to ice)
Frozen Dew - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔black ice, dew that is
then frozen
Haze - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔forms at a relative humidity
<100%; when aerosols are gyroscopic; reduction of
visibility; water seeking particles that enhance
condensation
Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cloud at ground level;
(smog= smoke+fog)
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Formed by cooling, evaporation, and mixing
Advection Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔warm, moist, air
moves over cold surface; winds slightly stronger so
deeper fog layer; can see it roll in
Upslope Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cooling of air as it
moves upslope
Evaporation Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cold air over
warm water; water evaporates into cooler air above it;
the ending of fog occurs with enhanced wind or sun
penetrating fog and warming ground
Radiation Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔Ground fog
Clear nights
long wave radiation cooling at night (like dew) but light
wind mixes shallow layer above surface;
fog more common in winter because of longer nights;
common with strong surface inversions
stratus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔"layer" (flat)
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cumulus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔"heap/pile" detached
(think cauliflower)
nimbus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔raining
alto - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔middle
cirrus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔ice
high clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔bases >7km; ice only
cirrus; thin and whispy
Cirrus: thin and wispy
cirrostratus: even thinner than cirrus and altostratus, see
halo
cirrocumulus: even smaller and dinner details and
structure, smaller than altocumulus
Middle clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔bases 2-7km;
generally water
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altostratus: higher and thinner than stratus, look for some
sunlight
altocumulus: can be cellular (but smaller cells than
stratocumulus)
nimbostratus: like stratus but with rain
low clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔base<2km
stratus: forms when large layers of stable air are
lifted,thick, grey, look for texture
stratocumulus: layer cloud with same vertical
development
cumulous: form from stronger updrafts in unstable or
conditionally unstable environments
cumulonimbus: can extend to depth of troposphere, has
ice anvil, and heavy rain, and often lightning
stratus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔
TAMU ATMO 201 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025
Dew - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔liquid condensation on a
surface; common during cold, calm nights; long wave
cooling of air to dew point
Frost - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔similar to dew but from
deposition rather than condensation; (vapor to ice)
Frozen Dew - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔black ice, dew that is
then frozen
Haze - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔forms at a relative humidity
<100%; when aerosols are gyroscopic; reduction of
visibility; water seeking particles that enhance
condensation
Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cloud at ground level;
(smog= smoke+fog)
,2|Page
Formed by cooling, evaporation, and mixing
Advection Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔warm, moist, air
moves over cold surface; winds slightly stronger so
deeper fog layer; can see it roll in
Upslope Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cooling of air as it
moves upslope
Evaporation Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔cold air over
warm water; water evaporates into cooler air above it;
the ending of fog occurs with enhanced wind or sun
penetrating fog and warming ground
Radiation Fog - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔Ground fog
Clear nights
long wave radiation cooling at night (like dew) but light
wind mixes shallow layer above surface;
fog more common in winter because of longer nights;
common with strong surface inversions
stratus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔"layer" (flat)
,3|Page
cumulus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔"heap/pile" detached
(think cauliflower)
nimbus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔raining
alto - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔middle
cirrus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔ice
high clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔bases >7km; ice only
cirrus; thin and whispy
Cirrus: thin and wispy
cirrostratus: even thinner than cirrus and altostratus, see
halo
cirrocumulus: even smaller and dinner details and
structure, smaller than altocumulus
Middle clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔bases 2-7km;
generally water
, 4|Page
altostratus: higher and thinner than stratus, look for some
sunlight
altocumulus: can be cellular (but smaller cells than
stratocumulus)
nimbostratus: like stratus but with rain
low clouds - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔base<2km
stratus: forms when large layers of stable air are
lifted,thick, grey, look for texture
stratocumulus: layer cloud with same vertical
development
cumulous: form from stronger updrafts in unstable or
conditionally unstable environments
cumulonimbus: can extend to depth of troposphere, has
ice anvil, and heavy rain, and often lightning
stratus - ...ANSWER... ✔ ✔
