Water and Atmospheric Moisture

John Cedmerk Salcedo

 Water on Earth

• Condensing cloud of dust, gas, and icy comets

accrete (coalesced) to form the planet.
• Water reaches the surface through outgasing.
• Rain fell, & water is sustained when temperature
drops below 100° C (~3.8 billion years ago).
• Progressive basin infilling.
 Ocean and Freshwater Distribution

• Eustatic - water volume changes in oceans.

• Glacio-eustatic – changes dues to storage of glaciers & ice sheets.
 Land and Water Hemispheres

• The total moisture in the atmosphere, rivers, and streams

accounts for 0.033% of all freshwater on the planet.
 Three States of Water

- heat released. (Covalent bond)

+ heat absorbed.

• Hydrogen bond creates a surface tension. Glass may be overfilled.

• Also causes capillary action. Pulling of hydrogen bonds.Water
climbs the side of a glass.
 Phase Changes

Assumes no
change in
sensible temp…

• Water is densest @ 39° F.

• Expands from 39° F. to –20° F.
• Solid as hexagonal crystal.
• Volume increases 9%.
• Thus, ice is 0.9 density of
liquid water.
 Humidity

• Humidity – water vapor in the air.

• Relative Humidity – ratio of actual water vapor
content/maximum water vapor capacity of the air at a
given temp. x 100.
• Varies by evaporation, condensation, or temperature
changes.
Relative Humidity
• Saturation – maximum water vapor that air can contain at a
given temperature.

• Net transfer of water vapor molecules between the surface

& air is in equilibrium.

• Any increase in water vapor or cooling of the air will result

in condensation (cloud, fog, or precipitation).

• Dew Point – the temperature at which air is saturated.

 Water Vapor in the Atmosphere
Cooler, high altitude clouds

Lighter gray indicates higher

Water vapor content.
Water vapor content in a GOES image.
Humidity Patterns
• Vapor Pressure – The proportion
of air pressure composed of water
Vapor (mb).

• Saturation vapor pressure – the

maximum pressure that water vapor
molecules contribute to air.
R.H. = Actual water vapor/S.V.P
• Specific Humidity – mass of
water vapor per mass of air at
a given temperature (g/kg).

• Remains constant w/
changes in temperature &
pressure.
Humidity Instruments
 Atmospheric Stability

• Adiabatic Processes
• Stable and Unstable Atmospheric
Conditions
Adiabatic Processes
 Adiabatic Processes

• Dry adiabatic rate

– 10 C°/ 1000 m
– 5.5 F°/ 1000 ft

• Moist adiabatic rate

– 6 C°/ 1000 m
– 3.3 F°/ 1000 ft
Adiabatic Processes
Stable, unstable, &
conditionally unstable
atmospheric conditions
 Clouds and Fog

• Cloud Formation Processes.

• Cloud Types and Identification.
• Fog.
 Moisture Droplets & Cloud Formation

• Condensation forms around microscopic particles (dust, soot, ash).

 Precipitation Theories

Collision-Coalescence Process Ice-Crystal Process

Cloud Types and
Identification
Cumulonimbus Development
 Fog

• Advection fog.
• Evaporation fog.
• Upslope fog.
• Valley fog.
• Radiation fog.
 Advection Fog

• Warm air passes over cooler water or snow-covered surfaces.

 Valley Fog

• Cooler air settles into low-lying depressions, becomes saturated,

fog ensues.
 Radiation Fog

• Radiative cooling of moist ground chills overlying air to

the dew point.