Chapter 5: Atmospheric Moisture Introduction
Over 70% of the planet is covered by water
Water is unique in that it can simultaneously exist in all
three states (solid, liquid, gas) at the same temperature
Water is able to shift between states very easily
The hydrologic cycle refers to the regular cycle of water
through the earth-atmosphere system
Liquification of water occurs frequently at normal Earth
Water Vapor and Liquid Water temperatures
Indices of Water Vapor Content – Occurs when air is saturated with respect to water vapor
– The addition of water vapor, or the lowering of temperature, in
Distribution of Water Vapor saturated air will lead to condensation
Measuring Humidity
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Phase Changes of Water Water Vapor In the Air
680 cal/gm
80 cal/gm 600 cal/gm
(from Meteorology:
Understanding the Saturation
Atmosphere) (from Understanding Weather & Climate)
Latent heat is the heat released or absorbed per unit mass when Evaporation: the process whereby molecules break free
water changes phase. of the liquid volume.
Latent heating is an efficient way of transferring energy Condensation: water vapor molecules randomly collide
globally and is an important energy source for Earth’s weather with the water surface and bond with adjacent molecules.
and climate. ESS-5 ESS-5
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Indices of Water Vapor Content
by mass
Observed Specific Humidity
in unit of g/kg
in unit of g/m3
by vapor pressure
relative
humidity
in unit of %
by temperature Î Dew Point Temperature ESS-5
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(from Meteorology Today) ESS-5
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Specific .vs. Relative Humidity
Relative humidity
Vapor Pressure
saturated 6/10 x 100%=60 %
specific humidity The air’s content of moisture can
10 gm/kg be measured by the pressure exerted
by the water vapor in the air.
specific humidity
6 gm/kg The total pressure inside an air
parcel is equal to the sum of
saturated pressures of the individual gases.
specific humidity
20 gm/kg Relative humidity In the left figure, the total pressure
6/20 x 100%=30 % of the air parcel is equal to sum of
vapor pressure plus the pressures
Specific Humidity: How many grams of water vapor in one kilogram exerted by Nitrogen and Oxygen.
of air (in unit of gm/kg).
High vapor pressure indicates large
Relative Humidity: The percentage of current moisture content to the numbers of water vapor molecules.
saturated moisture amount (in unit of %).
Unit of vapor pressure is usually in
Clouds form when the relative humidity reaches 100%. (from Meteorology Today)
mb.
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Saturation Vapor Pressure How to Saturate the Air?
Saturation vapor pressure describes how
much water vapor is needed to make the
air saturated at any given temperature.
Saturation vapor pressure depends
primarily on the air temperature in the
following way:
The
Clausius-Clapeyron
Equation
(from “IS The Temperature Rising”)
Î Three ways:
(1) Increase (inject more) water vapor to the air (AÆ B).
Saturation pressure increases (2) Reduce the temperature of the air (A Æ C).
exponentially with air temperature.
(3) Mix cold air with warm, moist air.
L: latent heat of evaporation; α: specific volume of vapor and liquid ESS-5
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“Runway” Greenhouse Effect Dew Point Temperature
Dew point temperature is
another measurement of air
If a planet has a very high temperature that the air can moisture.
never reach a saturation point
Dew point temperature is
ÎWater vapor can be added into the atmosphere. defined as the temperature to
ÎMore water vapor traps more heat (a greenhouse effect) which moist air must be cool
to become saturated without
ÎThe planet’s temperature increases furthermore changing the pressure.
Î Ever more water evaporated into the atmosphere
The close the dew point
Î More greenhouse effect temperature is to the air
temperature, the closer the air
Î More warming is to saturation.
Î More water vapor
Dew points can be only equal
Î ….. (from The Atmosphere)
or less than air temperatures.
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Measuring Humidity
The easiest way to measure humidity is through use of a sling
psychrometer - A pair of thermometers one of which has a
Frost Point Temperature wetted cotton wick attached to the bulb.
The two thermometers measure the wet and dry bulb
temperature.
Swinging the psychrometer causes air to circulate about the
When air reaches saturation at temperatures below bulbs.
freezing the term frost point is used. When air is unsaturated, evaporation occurs from the wet bulb
which cools the bulb.
Once evaporation occurs, the wet bulb temperature stabilizes
allowing for comparison with the dry bulb temperature.
The wet bulb depression is found with a greater depression
indicative of a dry atmosphere.
Charts gauge the amount of atmospheric humidity.
Aspirated and hair hygrometers are alternatives.
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Dew Frost
Liquid condensation on
surface objects. Similar to dew except
that it forms when
Diabatic cooling of surface surface temperatures are
air typically takes place below freezing.
through terrestrial radiation
loss on calm, cool, clear Deposition occurs
nights. instead of condensation.
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Fog Different types of fog found throughout the U.S.
Simply a surface cloud
when air either cools to the
dew point, has moisture
added, or when cooler air is
mixed with warmer moister
air.
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