Unit 3.

Earth’s Atmosphere

Moisture in the
Atmosphere

Paul Bryan W. Patawaran

Discussant
Moisture in the Atmosphere
The form of water vapor, liquid water, and
ice, controls most aspects of our weather
and climate.

Moisture moves back and forth from Earth's

surface to the atmosphere and, once in the
atmosphere, is transferred vertically and
laterally by moving air.
Atmospheric Moisture
• Recall: The Hydrologic Cycle
• Moisture – is the presence of a liquid,
especially water, often in trace amounts.
Small amounts of water may be found, for
example, in the air, in foods, and in some
commercial products. Moisture also refers to
the amount of water vapor present in the air.

• Water Vapor – water in its gaseous state,

especially in the atmosphere and at a
temperature below the boiling point. Water
vapor in the atmosphere serves as the raw
material for cloud and rain formation.
 Water Vapor
• Saturation – air that contains as much
water vapor as possible (at a given
temperature) such that additional water
vapor would result in condensation
• Unsaturated – air that contains less water
vapor (at a given temperature) than possible
• Supersaturation – air that contains more
water vapor than possible (at a given
temperature)
 Water Vapor
• Vapor Pressure – The portion of total
pressure exerted by water vapor
 Water Vapor vs. Ice/Water
• Evaporation – The transition of liquid molecules
into the gaseous phase (water in a bowl
disappears)
• Condensation – The transition of gaseous
molecules into the liquid phase (beads of water on
a cold pipe)
• Sublimation – The transition of solid molecules
into the gaseous phase (an ice museum vanishes)
• Deposition – The transition of gaseous molecules
into the solid phase (frost on a cold morning)
 Vapor Pressure
• Key ideas:
1) Vapor pressure indicates how much
water vapor is in the air
2) Saturation vapor pressure indicates
how much water vapor could be in
the air (depends on temperature)
 Humidity
• Is the concentration of water vapor
present in the air.
• Water vapor, the gaseous state of
water, is generally invisible to the
human eye.
• Humidity indicates the likelihood for
precipitation, dew, or fog to be
present.
 Useful Indices of Atmospheric
Water Vapor Content
• Vapor pressure – the portion of total
pressure exerted by water vapor (mb)
• Saturation vapor pressure – the vapor
pressure at saturation (mb)
• Specific humidity – the mass of water
vapor in a given mass of air (g/kg)
mv mv
q = = m +m
m v d
• Saturation specific humidity – the
specific humidity at saturation (g/kg)
 Useful Indices of Atmospheric
Water Vapor Content
• Relative humidity – the amount of water
vapor in the air relative to the maximum
possible amount of water vapor in the air (%)

q
RH = X 100
qs

q = specific humidity
qs = saturation specific humidity
Relative Humidity
 Measuring Humidity
• Sling psychrometer – a pair of thermometers,
one with moist cotton around the bulb, that are
“slung” around until the wet bulb temperature is
reached
 Measuring Humidity
• Hair hygrometer – measures humidity
based on the expansion and contraction of
a strand of hair
 The Heat Index
• Heat index – the apparent temperature
due to the effects of humidity
 Condensation in the Atmosphere
• Cloud- and fog-forming condensation
results from cooling in two forms

• Diabatic cooling – heat is removed from the air by

its surroundings (example – nighttime cooling of
surface air)

• Adiabatic cooling – no heat is exchanged between

the air and its surroundings (example – rising air)
Adiabatic Cooling and Warming
Rising air
1) Air encounters lower pressure
2) Air expands (which requires work)
3) Air cools due to work done by air
Sinking air
4) Air encounters higher pressure
5) Air is compressed (work is done on air)
6) Air warms due to work done on air
Types of Condensation
• Dew – condensation of water vapor onto the
ground or objects on the ground
• Frost – deposition of water vapor onto the ground
or objects on the ground
• Frozen dew – condensation that freezes
• Fog – condensation of water vapor onto airborne
aerosols, forming a cloud in contact with the ground
• Clouds – condensation of water vapor onto airborne
aerosols aloft
Fog
• Radiation fog – fog that forms overnight due to the
cooling of air in contact with the ground
• Associated with temperature inversions

• Advection fog – fog that forms when warm, moist

air moves over a cool surface and cools
Advection Fog
Fog
• Upslope fog – fog that forms due to the cooling of
air as it rises up a gentle slope

• Steam fog – fog that forms when warm, moist air

mixes with cooler air

• Precipitation fog – fog that forms when rain

evaporates and adds water vapor to ambient air,
which then condenses
Steam Fog
 Unit 3. Earth’s Atmosphere

Weather
Changes

Paul Bryan W. Patawaran

Discussant
 Weather
• is defined as the state of the atmosphere
at some place and time, usually
expressed in terms of temperature, air
pressure, humidity, wind speed and
direction, precipitation, and cloudiness.
• Meteorologists study weather.

• Temporary behavior of atmosphere

(what’s going on at any certain time)
• Small geographic area
• Can change rapidly
 Climate
• is defined in terms of the average (mean)
of weather elements (such as
temperature and precipitation) over a
specified period of time (30 years
according to the World Meteorological
Organization.

• Long-term behavior of atmosphere

• Large geographic area
• Very slow to change
What Factors Affect Weather &
Climate?
1. The Sun
2. The Water Cycle
3. The Atmosphere
4. The Ocean
How Does the Sun Affect
Weather?
• It warms the atmosphere &
oceans
• It creates climate zones
• It keeps the water cycle going
• It affects weather patterns
Water Cycle Advanced by Brainpop
Some Weather Factors
Wind. This tool measures wind speed. It
is called an anemometer.

Precipitation. Rain, snow, sleet and hail

are all forms of precipitation.

Temperature. Temperature is how warm

or cold it is outside.

Cloud Cover. There are many types of

clouds that form in different conditions.
Weather changes every day!
Seasons on Earth
 Philippine
recognized only two seasons

Wet Season Dry Season

The water cycle affects both
climate and weather
Climate is weather measured over
a long period of time
Weather =
clothes for
the day

Climate =
clothes in a
closet
Climate Zones:
Low-Latitude Climates

affected by equatorial tropical air masses

Climate Zones:
Mid-Latitude & Subtropical Climates

affected by two air masses: tropical air moving toward poles and
polar air masses moving toward equator
Climate Zones:
High-Latitude Climates

dominated by polar and arctic air masses

 Atmospheric Pressure
• is the force per unit area exerted by the
weight of the atmosphere. To measure
that weight, meteorologists use a
barometer.
How does Air Pressure affect
weather?
• How much the earth’s atmosphere is pressing down
on us

• Measured with a BAROMETER

• If it CHANGES, then new weather is on the way:

• Falling Air Pressure = stormy weather coming
• Rising Air Pressure = fair weather coming
• Steady Air Pressure = no change is coming