WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE Honors Earth science Chapter 16
Water changes state Liquid → Solid Solid → liquid freezing Solid → liquid melting Gas (water vapor)→ liquid condensation Liquid → gas evaporation
Water changes state Gas to solid? Deposition Frost Solid to gas? Sublimation Dry ice Most water vapor enters atmosphere through EVAPORATION
Latent heat When changing phase; temp. remains steady
LATENT HEAT “Hidden heat” Released during condensation Absorbed during evaporation
http://jamaica. u. arizona. edu/ic/nats1011/lectures/ch05/FIG05_006 http://jamaica.u.arizona.edu/ic/nats1011/lectures/ch05/FIG05_006.JPG
Relative Humidity
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air!!
relative humidity Temp.= 31ºC water vapor in air= 25 g Calculate the rh: 25/29.4= .85 x 100= 85% 85% of the air is filled with water vapor What happens at 100% RH? condensation!
How do we measure the amount of water vapor in the air? Cool it until it can’t hold anymore moisture. This temp is DEW POINT
Dew point Temperature at which 100% humidity occurs (condensation temp) Condensation (dew) will form if above freezing Frost will form if below freezing FROST IS NOT FROZEN DEW!
Who cares about dew point?
Lawn care Sports on grass Farmers/ Gardeners Bad hair days? Tell the humidity When air temp. is closer to dew point temp, humidity is higher
Today’s weather Grosse Pointe Humidity: 58% Dew Point:21° Pressure: 30.29 in Visibility: 10.0 mi UV Index: 0 - Low