Without condensation nuclei, a cooling air mass can become supersaturated.

Question

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Condensation nuclei are tiny particles in the atmosphere that serve as the surface for water vapor to condense onto and form cloud droplets. Without these nuclei, a cooling air mass can become supersaturated, meaning that it contains more water vapor than it can support. In the absence of nuclei, the excess water vapor cannot condense into clouds, which can lead to other atmospheric phenomena like fog or even precipitation without visible clouds.

Without Condensation Nuclei, a Cooling Air Mass Can Become Supersaturated