Atmospheric Moisture: Review Questions on Evaporation, Condensation, Saturation, and Humid, Study notes of Meteorology

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Jon Ahlquist 10/5/

MET1010 Intro to the Atmosphere 1

Chapter 4 Review: Moisture

„ What do you call the direct transformation from ice to vapor? From vapor to ice? „ Explain why it would be very unusual if only evaporation were taking place without some condensation occurring at the same time and place. „ What is saturation? „ What is correct and what is incorrect about the statement: Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. „ What is vapor pressure? Saturation vapor pressure? „ What happens to the saturation vapor pressure as temperature increases?

Boiling, Dew Point Temperature

„ The saturation vapor pressure equals what other pressure when water boils? „ What happens to the boiling temperature as you go to higher altitudes? Why does this happen? „ What is the definition of relative humidity? „ What is the definition of dew point temperature? „ Can the dew point temperature be lower than the air temperature? Equal to the air temperature? Greater than the air temperature? „ How much does the dew point temperature usually change during 24 hours? „ Describe how relative humidity changes during a day.

Dew Point and Relative Humidity

„ How are the dew point and the air temperature related when the relative humidity is near 100%? When the relative humidity is low? „ What is true about the dew point when air has many water vapor molecules? „ Can air have: ‹ a low relative humidity & a low dew point? ‹ a low relative humidity & a high dew point? ‹ a high relative humidity & a low dew point? ‹ a high relative humidity & a high dew point?

Humidity in Different Places

„ Why does Florida air usually have a higher dew point temperature than California air? „ Why does your skin get dry during winter, particularly up north? „ Why is it vague to say that the air in a certain place is humid? (dew point versus relative humidity) „ What fraction of evaporation occurs over oceans? „ If all the water vapor in the atmosphere, would rain out (an impossibility), how deep would it be over the surface of the Earth? „ What region of the continental US typically has the highest dew point temperatures?

Relative Humidity and Measurement

„ Describe situations in which you cold find the following relative humidities outside & inside a house: ‹ Low outside and low inside ‹ Low outside and high inside ‹ High outside and low inside ‹ High outside and high inside „ How could you measure the dew point temperature? „ How does a psychrometer (2 thermometers, one covered by a wet cotton sock) measure humidity?