Water in the Atmosphere

Chapter 18.1

Water Vapor

The source of all condensation and precipitation

Most important gas in the atmosphere

Precipitation any form of water that falls from a

cloud

rain, snow, hail, sleet

Water Changes State

Solid to liquid (melting)

Energy applied breaks the crystal structure of ice
Latent heat = hidden stored energy

Liquid to gas (evaporation)

Energy stored by water molecules allows them the

motion needed to escape

Gas to liquid (condensation)

Water molecules release stored energy

Water Changes State

Gas to solid (deposition) frost

Solid to gas (sublimation) dry ice

Humidity

Humidity amount of water vapor in the air

Saturation
Air that contains the maximum quantity of water
vapor that it can hold at any given temp. and
pressure
Warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air
Temperature increases; water content & saturation
both increase

Relative Humidity

Ratio of the actual water vapor content

compared with the amount of water vapor air
can hold at that temperature and pressure
How near the air is to saturation (100%)
Can be changed by:

Relative Humidity Changes

Adding/removing water
Temperature change
1. decreasing temperature; increases RH
2. increasing temperature; decreases RH

Dew Point

Temperature to which air has to be cooled to reach

saturation (water condenses)

Dew cool ground at night

after warmer/moist day
High dew point moist air
Low dew point dry air

Measuring Humidity

Hygrometer/psychrometer
Dry bulb thermometer present air temp.
Wet bulb thermometer contains a wet wick
Swing instrument to pass air over wick
Heat energy absorbed as the water evaporates decreases
wet bulb temperature

Measuring Humidity
1. The dryer the air the lower the temp of wet bulb
thermometer
2. The larger the difference between thermometers
the lower the relative humidity.
3. If air is saturated no evaporation will occur
(thermometers will be the same temp.)
4. Once two temperatures are known a table is
used to find relative humidity and dew point
temp.