Psychrometric

constant(λ)
GROUP 7
 MEMBERS:

1. BRIAN JOHN OBUMBA-EICQ/00376/2019

2. JOEL THURANIRA-EICQ/03098P/2019
3. TONNY BLAIRE-EICQ/00377/2019
4. MORGAN NYAKUNDI-EICQ/00383/2019
5. EZEKIEL ONSERIO-EICQ/00375/2019
6. MELVIN KINOTI-EICQ/00353/2019
7. JAMES NJOROGE-EICQ/04493P/2019
8. SULEIMAN KODO-EICQ/00384/2019
9. KELVIN MINCHA-EICQ/00382/2019
10. HUNTER MACHARIA-EICQ/07715P/2019
Atmospheric parameters

Atmospheric pressure (P)

Latent heat of vaporization (l)
Psychrometric constant (g)

The effect of the principal weather parameters on

evapotranspiration can be assessed with the help of equations
based on the above parameters. Some of the relationships require
parameters which express a specific characteristic of the
atmosphere.
Atmospheric pressure (P)

• The atmospheric pressure, P, is the pressure exerted by the

weight of the earth's atmosphere.
• Evaporation at high altitudes is promoted due to low atmospheric
pressure as expressed in the psychrometric constant.
• The effect is, however, small and in the calculation procedures,
the average value for a location is sufficient.
• A simplification of the ideal gas law, assuming 20°C for a standard
atmosphere, can be employed to calculate P:
P=101.3(
• Where:
P - atmospheric pressure [kPa],
z elevation above sea level [m],
• Unit of measurement:
Atmospheric pressure [kPa]
Latent heat of vaporization (l)

The latent heat of vaporization, l, expresses the energy required

to change a unit mass of water from liquid to water vapour in a
constant pressure and constant temperature process.
The value of the latent heat varies as a function of temperature.
At a high temperature, less energy will be required than at lower
temperatures.
As l varies only slightly over normal temperature ranges a single
value of 2.45 MJ kg-1 is taken in the simplification of the FAO
Penman-Monteith equation. This is the latent heat for an air
temperature of about 20°C.
• Unit of measurement:
Latent heat of water vaporization, 2.45 [MJ kg−1],
Psychrometric constant (g)

• Definition:
The ratio of specific heat (Cp) of moist air at constant pressure to
latent heat (Lv) of vaporization of water.
• Units of measurement:
Psychrometric constant [kPa °C−1]

g=*P
• Where:

 g psychrometric constant [kPa °C-1],

P atmospheric pressure [kPa],
l latent heat of vaporization, 2.45 [MJ kg-1],
cp specific heat at constant pressure, 1.013 10-3 [MJ kg-1 °C-1],
e ratio molecular weight of water vapour/dry air = 0.622.
Continuation of psychrometric constant…….

The specific heat at constant pressure is the amount of energy required to

increase the temperature of a unit mass of air by one degree at constant
pressure.
Its value depends on the composition of the air, i.e., on its humidity. For
average atmospheric conditions a value cp = 1.013 * 10-3 MJ kg-1 °C-1 can be
used.
Since atmospheric pressure, P, depends upon altitude, so does the
psychometric constant.
Thus on average, at a given location or altitude, the psychrometric constant
is approximately constant. Still, it is worth remembering that weather
impacts both atmospheric pressure and composition.
Variation of the psychrometric constant with
air temperature
Continuation…….

• the psychrometric constant can be written

respectively as,
EXAMPLE:
CALCULATION OF THE PARAMETERS:

Determine the atmospheric pressure and the psychrometric constant at an elevation of 1800 m.
With: z= 1800 m
From Eq. P = 101.3 [(293 - 81.8 kPa
(0.0065) 1800)/293]5.26 =

From Eq. g = 0.665 10-3 (81.8) = 0.054 kPa °C-1

The average value of the atmospheric pressure is 81.8 kPa.
The psychrometric constant, g, is 0.054 kPa/°C.
THE END OF PRESENTATION
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