Phy Science - Weather Review

Water Vapor - water vapor is the gas that that drives atmospheric processes. When water vapor condenses around dust, smoke, salt particles (condensation nuclei) clouds can form along with precipitation- rain, snow, sleet hail, etc.
Phase Changes- water can undergo phase changes at the Earth's surface.

• melting- solid to liquid,
  
• evaporation - liquid to gas
• condensation- gas to liquid
• freezing- liquid to solid
• latent energy- the energy that is stored in water, see notes.

Relative humidity- indicates how close the air is to saturation. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. Check notes.
Dew Point- the temperature at which the air needs to be cooled to reach saturation/ clouds can form.
Adiabatic- the cooling/heating of air due to a change in pressure. When air is compresses (higher pressure) it  will warm. When air expands (lower pressure) it will cool.
Wet adiabatic rate-is less than the dry adiabatic rate because of latent heat.