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Deposition
Why does it take so much energy
to evaporate water?
In the liquid state, adjacent water molecules
attract one another
- charge on O attracted to + charge on H
we call this hydrogen bonding
This same hydrogen bond accounts for
surface tension on a free water surface
column of water
Sublimation - evaporate ice directly to water vapor
Take one gram of ice at zero degrees centigrade
Evaporation
from oceans is
vital!
2001 Prentice-Hall. From Lutgens and Tarbuck, The Atmosphere, 8th Ed.
Cloud Condensation Nuclei
Once water vapor is in the air, we can
cool a parcel until the water condenses
into a cloud.
However, condensation normally
requires a condensation nucleus.
These are often called CCN cloud
condensation nuclei.
A condensation nucleus is a particle
that provides a site upon which water
vapor molecules can condense.
Evapotranspiration
Potential (land-only)
evapotranspiration
http://www-cger.nies.go.jp/grid-e/gridtxt/pet.html
Moist and Dry Air
We say that the air is dry when there
is no water vapor in the air.
The air is moist when there is some
water vapor in the air. Recall that the
amount of water vapor in the air can
reach 4%.
Note:
Moist air does not imply that condensation
has occurred!
Moist air can be cloud-free.
Almost all air in the atmosphere is moist.
Saturated Air
We say that the air is saturated when
moist air is in a state of equilibrium with
a plane (flat) surface of pure water or
pure ice at the same temperature and
pressure.
Consider a box of water with only dry air
above the water:
Dry Air
H2O
Saturation
Over time, water vapor
molecules will leave the
liquid and go into the
vapor phase.
For a given temperature H2O
and pressure, there will be
When we achieve this
a limit to the amount of
equilibrium state (same
water vapor molecules that number of molecules
can enter the air without leaving the liquid as
the same number returning) we say the
returning to the liquid. air is saturated.
Supersaturation
We can continue adding water vapor to the
air beyond saturation (but we have to do
work to do this!)
We say that a supersaturation condition
exists in a given portion of the atmosphere
when the relative humidity exceeds 100%.
Or we can say that the air is supersaturated
when the water vapor in the air is in excess
of that required to achieve saturation.
Moisture in the Air
1. Absolute Humidity
2. Specific Humidity
3. Mixing Ratio (w)
4. Vapor Pressure (e)
5. Relative humidity (RH)
Absolute Humidity
Absolute Humidity
The mass of water vapor (in grams)
per unit volume (m3) of dry air.
Called the water vapor density.
Not terribly useful in meteorology.
A simple change in volume will
change the absolute humidity!
mv g
a= Units:
3
volume m
Absolute Humidity -- Problem
Absolute Humidity
The value for absolute humidity changes
as the volume changes.
So, if a parcel were to rise and the volume
expands, then the absolute humidity would
decrease even though the amount of water
vapor had not changed!
We say that absolute humidity is not
conserved.
Absolute humidity is not used much in
meteorology.
Specific Humidity
Specific Humidity
mv g
q= Units:
ma kg
Specific Humidity
Consider the
average
specific
humidity at
various
latitudes.
Highest q in the
tropics!
Example: 10 g kg-1
Range: 0 to 30 g kg-1
Mixing Ratio and Specific
Humidity
We can relate the mixing ratio to the
specific humidity by the following simple
relationship:
w
q=
1+ w
Pressure -- Review
Gravity
Pressure -- Review
Pressure is a force per unit area:
F
P=
A
In meteorology we use the units millibars.
Typical sea-level pressure is
approximately 1013 mb.
We shall revisit pressure later -- what about
the pressure associated with water vapor?
Vapor Pressure
Vapor pressure: The partial pressure of
water vapor, i.e., that portion of total
atmospheric pressure that is due to the
presence of water vapor (H2Ov).
Recall: N2, O2, A, CO2
Each of these gasses exerts a pressure.
The sum total of these partial pressures is the
total atmospheric pressure.
We denote the vapor pressure by the letter
e.
Vapor Pressure
Example 1:
Assume an atmosphere is made up of
three gasses:
CO2 -- 75 %
N2 ---- 15 %
H2 ---- 10 %
You measure the pressure and find it to
be 1000 mb. What is the partial
pressure of Nitrogen?
29 Units
Now consider the mean atomic weight of water vapor
only:
Hydrogen = 1 x 2 = 2
Oxygen = 16 x 1 = 16
18 Units
Moist air is less dense than dry air and will tend to
rise.