SEMESTER IV

UG21T5405

METEOROLOGY
WATER VAPOUR
12.1 Define ‘WATER VAPOUR’

➢water vapour, is the gaseous form of water

➢It is the gas phase of water and is formed

when liquid water evaporates or when ice
sublimates

➢ It can be formed either through a process

of evaporation or sublimation.
12.2 Describe the properties of water vapour in the
atmosphere

• Water vapor is a colorless, odorless gas that is

transparent to visible light.
• Water vapor is less dense than dry air, which means that
it has a lower molecular weight and tends to rise in the
atmosphere.
12.2 Describe the properties of water vapour in the
atmosphere
• Water vapor is a powerful greenhouse gas, which means that it absorbs
and re-emits radiation from the sun, and can contribute to global
warming and climate change.
• Water vapor is an important component of the hydrological cycle,
which is the process by which water is cycled between the Earth's
surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Water vapor can condense to form
clouds and precipitation, which can then fall to the Earth's surface as
rain, snow, or hail.
• The amount of water vapor that the atmosphere can hold depends on
the temperature and pressure. Warm air can hold more water vapor
than cold air, and higher atmospheric pressure can also increase the
amount of water vapor that can be held.
 12.3 Define ‘Evaporation’

❖ Evaporation is the process by which a liquid substance

changes into a gas or vapor state due to an increase in its
temperature and/or a decrease in the pressure exerted on
the liquid.
12.3 Define ‘condensation’

❖Condensation is the process by which a gas or vapor changes

into a liquid state.

❖This occurs when the temperature of the gas or vapor decreases

or when its pressure increases, causing the gas or vapor
molecules to lose energy and slow down.
 12.3 Define ‘latent heat of vaporization’
❖Latent heat of vaporization is the amount of energy required to
transform a given amount of a substance from the liquid state to the
gaseous state at a constant temperature
For Example :
The latent heat of vaporization of water is relatively high, which is why
it takes a lot of energy to turn water into steam. Conversely,
substances with weaker intermolecular forces, like ethanol, have lower
latent heats of vaporization and require less energy to vaporize.
 12.4 Define ‘saturated air’
❖Saturated air is air that contains the maximum amount of water vapor that
it can hold at a given temperature and pressure, without the water vapor
condensing into liquid form.

❖When the relative humidity of the air is 100%, the air is saturated, and any
additional water vapor will condense into liquid form, such as on a surface
or in the form of fog, dew or clouds. The temperature at which the air
becomes saturated is called the dew point temperature, and it can be
calculated using the relative humidity and air temperature.
 12.5 Describe the processes of mixing, cooling and the
evaporation of water vapour, by which a sample of air may
be brought to saturation

• Mixing cooling occurs when a sample of warm and dry air is mixed with a sample
of cooler and moist air, which can result in the temperature of the mixed air being
reduced to the dew point temperature
• This is because the cooler and moist air has a higher relative humidity and more
water vapor than the warm and dry air.
• When the two air masses are mixed, the water vapor in the moist air condenses
into liquid form, releasing latent heat of condensation, which warms the
surrounding air.
• As a result, the mixed air becomes cooler and more moist, and can reach the
dew point temperature and become saturated.
• Evaporation of water vapor is another process that can bring a sample of air to
saturation
• This occurs when dry air passes over a surface of water, causing the water to
evaporate and the water vapor to mix with the air
• As the air becomes more humid, it also cools down due to the energy required
for the water molecules to break their intermolecular bonds and become a gas
• The cooling effect reduces the temperature of the air until it reaches the dew
point temperature, at which point the air becomes saturated and any further
addition of water vapor will result in condensation
12.6 Define ‘dewpoint’, ‘absolute humidity’,
‘relative humidity’.
• Dew point is the temperature to which a given volume of air must be cooled at a
constant pressure and constant water vapor content in order for water vapor to
condense into liquid water
• Absolute humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in a given
volume of air, typically expressed in grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air.
• Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air
compared to the amount of water vapor that the air could hold at a particular
temperature and pressure. It is expressed as a percentage
12.7 Define super cooling, and frost point.
Supercooling is the process of cooling a substance below its freezing point without
it undergoing a phase change from liquid to solid.
Supercooling can occur when a liquid is very pure, free of impurities or nucleation
sites, which can trigger the formation of ice crystals. It can also occur when the
cooling rate is very rapid, preventing the molecules from forming a solid structure.
The frost point is the temperature at which a given volume of moist air must be
cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation, or 100% relative humidity.
The frost point is an important parameter in meteorology, particularly in
understanding the formation of frost and ice in the atmosphere, as well as the risk
of icing on aircraft and other equipment.
12.8 Explain diurnal and seasonal variation of
water vapour.
• Diurnal variation refers to the changes in the amount of water vapor in the
atmosphere that occur over a 24-hour period.
• During the day, solar radiation heats the earth's surface, causing an increase in
temperature and evaporation of water from oceans, lakes, and other bodies of
water
• This leads to an increase in the amount of water vapor in the air. As the day
progresses and temperatures begin to cool, the rate of evaporation decreases,
and the amount of water vapor in the air starts to decrease.
• Seasonal variation refers to the changes in the amount of water vapor in the
atmosphere that occur over the course of a year
• In the Northern Hemisphere, the amount of water vapor in the air tends to be
highest during the summer months when temperatures are warmest and there is
more evaporation from bodies of water. In contrast, during the winter months,
the air is typically drier, as colder temperatures lead to less evaporation from
bodies of water and lower humidity levels.
• Both diurnal and seasonal variations in water vapor are important factors in
meteorology and weather forecasting, as they can influence the formation of
clouds, precipitation, and other weather phenomena
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