The Bergeron process causes cloud droplets to grow because:
A)water freezes instantly when its temperature reaches 0°C.
B)freezing nuclei are much more common in the atmosphere than other condensation nuclei.
C)larger drops fall and collect smaller droplets in the cloud.
D)the saturation vapor pressure is lower near ice crystals than it is near supercooled droplets.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Bergeron process involves the growth of cloud droplets due to the difference in saturation vapor pressure between supercooled droplets and ice crystals. The saturation vapor pressure is lower near ice crystals, causing water vapor to evaporate from nearby droplets and deposit onto the ice crystals, which grow larger. This process is more effective than the collision and coalescence process (option C) in cold clouds where supercooled droplets exist rather than rain droplets. Option A is incorrect because water does not freeze instantly at 0°C, but requires a nucleating particle to initiate the process. Option B is not related to the Bergeron process as it describes the relative abundance of different types of nuclei in the atmosphere.

The Bergeron Process Causes Cloud Droplets to Grow Because