Chapter 4 Flashcards
(20 cards)
process water rises in atmosphere
evaporation
process where water vapour to liquid
condensation
term for continuous movement of water in earth and atmosphere
hydrologic cycle
what are condensation nuclei
particles in atmosphere on which water vapour condenses and forms clouds
types of condensation nuclei
dust, salt, smoke, etc
hygroscopic vs hydrophobic nuclei
attract vs. repel water vapour
relationship between temperature and condensation
cooler temps enhance nuclei’s ability to attract moisture
air saturated?
max amount of water vapour holdable at that temp and pressure
air unsaturated
less water vapour than max it can hold
supersaturated air
more water vapour than it can hold at specific temp and pressure
relative humidity in relation to saturation
ratio of current amount of water vapour to max it can hold in percentage
when does dew form
air cools to point of saturation causing water vapour to condense
dew point in relation to saturation
dew point is temp where air becomes saturated below is condensation
fog formation in terms of saturation
airs cools to saturation causing water vapour to condense to tiny droplets and form fog
what is absolute humidity
mass of water vapour in given volume of air
ratio of current amount of water vapour in air to max it can hold
relative humidity
specific humidity
mass of water vapour per mass of air
how temperature affects relative humidity
temp increases = capacity to hold water vapour increases so lower relative humidity if no extra moisture
what happens to absolute humidity when air cools but amount water vapour stays same
constant AH but RH increases
what instruments measure humidity
hygrometers, psychrometers
