The Bergeron Process suggests that the coexistence of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets in a cloud is ideal for producing rain because_____ .
A) the ice crystals provide nuclei needed to form more water droplets
B) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for water vapor than does liquid water
C) the ice crystals provide the nuclei for snowflakes to form as precipitation
D) the liquid water has a stronger affinity for water vapor than do ice crystals
E) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for liquid water than does water vapor

Question

The Bergeron Process suggests that the coexistence of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets in a cloud is ideal for producing rain because_____  .
A) the ice crystals provide nuclei needed to form more water droplets
B) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for water vapor than does liquid water
C) the ice crystals provide the nuclei for snowflakes to form as precipitation
D) the liquid water has a stronger affinity for water vapor than do ice crystals
E) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for liquid water than does water vapor

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Bergeron Process, also known as the ice-phase process, explains precipitation formation in cold clouds. It relies on the principle that ice crystals have a lower saturation vapor pressure compared to supercooled water droplets. This means that water vapor is more likely to condense onto ice crystals than to remain in the air or condense onto liquid droplets. As a result, ice crystals grow at the expense of the liquid droplets, eventually becoming large enough to fall as precipitation, often melting into raindrops if the lower atmosphere is warm enough.

The Bergeron Process Suggests That the Coexistence of Ice Crystals