MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION

Hydrological Cycle the sun is the energy source involves changes of states Changes of States heat energy involved is measured in calories 1cal= the amount of heat required to raise the temp of 1gm of water 1oC latent heat * heat energy not associated with temp change evaporation, condensation melting, freezing sublimation, deposition

Humidity amount of water vapor in the air vapor pressure absolute humidity relatively humidity dew point temp measured by hygrometer or psychometric Evaporation evaporation from a water surface is affected by: * vapor pressure of water surface * vapor pressure of the air * wind

Evapotranspiration for land water balance factors: radiation, temp, dew point, wind speed, type of soil, vegetation, precipitation methods * theoretical (Penman, Thornthwaite) * analytical (based on balance of energy) * empirical (based on historical data) Condensation near the ground mist fog * advection * radiation * upslope * evaporation dew

Evaportation fog forming over a lake as cool air flows over the warm water. ( Source: NOAA Photo Collection Website).

Condensation above the surface (Cloud) hygroscopic nuclei solute effect curvature effect cloud forms & classification * Luke Howard 1803 * 10 basic types by WMO * stratus: layer cumulus: pile cirrus: hair, feather-like * by altitude: cirro: high alto: middle strato: low

Condensation aloft and adiabatic temperature change parcel of air mechanism causing air to rise: * orographic * convection * cyclonic adiabatic warming and cooling * lapse rate * dry adiabatic lapse rate * wet/moist adiabatic lapse rate stability * absolute stability * absolute instability * conditional instability

Precipitation types formation * Findeisen-Bergeron process * collision-coalescence process measurement: rain gauge spatial distribution * varies geographically and seasonally * factors: air mass, topography, distance from moisture source temporal distribution * no. of rain days * annual precipitation

Flood and drought uneven precipitation distribution both in time and space flood drought * meteorological drought * agricultural drought * hydrological drought * Palmer drought index a quantitative measure of drought intensity ranges from +4 (wet) to -4 (dry)