Experiment – 2

Objective: To measure the Evaporation by using Class A pan Evaporimeter

Theory: Evaporation is the Process in which a liquid changes to the gaseous state at the free surface, below the boiling
point of water. Evaporation occur when molecules of water attain high kinetic energy to eject themselves from the
water surface into atmosphere. Amount of energy used by a unit mass of water to changes from liquid state to vapour
state at constant temperature is known as the latent heat of vaporization.

Factors affecting the evaporation:

(a) Temperature : Evaporation increases with increase in temperature
(b) Wind: wind removes the water vapour molecules and brings fresh air which is capable of holding more
water vapour.
(c) Atmospheric pressure :Evaporation increases with decrease in atmospheric pressure .at high altitudes,
evaporation loss is more and in deep valleys, it is less
(d) Soluble salts or impurities: Rate of evaporation decreases with increase in impurities such as soluble
salt.
(e) Heat storage in water bodies: Deep Lake stores more energy in summer and releases it in winter,
resulting in more evaporation in winter.
(f) Evaporating surface: From lake, barren land, forest, different types of soil, etc.

Control of evaporation:
(a) Reduction of surface area: Evaporation is directly proportional to surface area.
(b) Mechanical cover: Temporary roofs such as rafts, lightweight floating particles can be adopted wherever
feasible. Limited to very small water bodies like ponds.
(c) Chemical films: Application of thin chemical film on the water surface. The only feasible method available
for reservoirs up to moderate size. Cetyl alcohol (hexadecanol), stearyl alcohol ( Octadecanol)

Measurement of evaporation: The evaporation is measured using evaporimeter.

Types of evaporimeters

(a) Class A Evaporimeter Pan

(b) ISI Standard Pan
(c) Colorado sunken Pan
(d) US Geological survey floating Pan
Details of Equipment: (Class A Pan Evaporimeter)
1. It consists of a 120.7 cm diameter and 25.4 cm deep pan made of 20 gauge galvanized iron sheet with a
stilling well of size 10 cm diameter and 30 cm height placed within the tank.
2. A vertical pointer is provided in the stilling well to show the level of water maintained in the pan.
3. Its purpose is to isolate a small portion of the water surface in the tank so that it is not disturbed by waves
produced by wind.
4. Three small holes are located at the bottom of the well to permit the flow of water in and out of the well.
5. The pan is painted white and is placed on a wooden frame so that air may circulate beneath the pan.
6. A measuring cylinder is used to measure the evaporation rate.
7. The cross-sectional area of the measuring cylinder is exactly 1/100 of the area of evaporation pan.

8. The scale from 0 to 20 cm is engraved inside it along the height and the graduation runs from top to bottom
in ascending order.

9. One full cylinder of water raises 2 mm height in the pan.

MEASURING PROCEDURE:

When there is no rainfall, add measured amount of water into the tank by the measuring cylinder up to the tip of the
fixed point of the gauge. Evaporation rate (mm) will be equal to water added (mm) to the evaporation pan.
 E = Number of measuring cylinders of water added to the tank X 2
On a rainy day, for example, if water added is 3 mm and rainfall is 5 mm, evaporation will be 8 mm
E = rainfall, i.e. 3 mm + water added, i.e.
5 mm

PRECAUTIONS:

If the rainfall is heavy, water must be removed from the tank with measuring cylinder. Difference between the
actual rainfall of the previous day and water removed from the tank gives the evaporation rate
. For example, if rainfall is 20 mm and water removed is 10 mm then the rate of evaporation will be 10 mm.
If there is very heavy rainfall, the tank overflows and evaporation value cannot be obtained. The message overflow
or excess rainfall is written in the weather report.