Atmospheric Water Flashcards
What does water exist as in atmosphere?
Gas
Solid
Liquid
Most common is gas - water vapour
Water vapour
Clear / colourless / odourless.
It absorbs , reflects and scatters incoming solar radiation , keeping atmosphere at a suitable temp to maintain life.
The amount of water vapour that can be held by air depends on temp.
Cold air cannot hold as much as hot.
Air over poles
Dry as it can’t hold as much water vapour as air temp is cold
What will a small increase in water vapour lead to ?
Increase in atmospheric temps.
Positive feebback as small increase in global temp would lead to rise in global water vapour levels.
Increasing atmospheric warming
Clouds
Visible mass of water droplets suspended in atmosphere.
Formed when air in lower layers of earths atmosphere becomes saturated due to either both of 2 processes : cooling of air and increase in water vapour.
When cloud droplets grow they can fall as rain.
Liquid to solid
Freezing
Latent head of fusion
Latent heat released
Solid to gas
Sublimation
Latent heat of sublimation
Absorbs latent heat
Gas to liquid
Condensation
Latent heat of vaporisation
Latent heat released
Solid to liquid
Melting
Latent heat of fusion
Latent heat absorbed
Gas to solid
Deposition
Latent heat of sublimation
Releases latent heat
Liquid to gas
Evaporation
Latent heat of vaporisation
Latent heat absorbed
Define latent heat
Energy required to convert a solid into a liquid/ vapour or a liquid into vapour without change in temp
