Introduction to

Evaporation in the
Hydrologic Cycle
Evaporation
Evaporation is a crucial process in the hydrologic cycle. It is
the transferal of liquid water into a gaseous state (water vapor) and its
diffusion into the atmosphere. In order for this to occur there must be
liquid water present and available energy from the sun or atmosphere.
Evaporation occurs when sunlight warms the surface of the water. The
heat from the sun makes the water molecules move faster and faster,
until they move so fast they escape as a gas.
Scientists have proven that the water bodies like oceans, sea,
lakes, and rivers provide approximately 90% of the moisture in the
atmosphere.
Why is evaporation important?

1 Water Transformation 2 Temperature Regulation

Evaporation converts liquid water into It helps regulate Earth's temperature
vapor, which is vital for cloud and influences climate patterns around
formation and precipitation. the globe.

3 Ecosystem Support 4 Water Cycle Balance

Supports ecosystems by providing Contributes to maintaining the balance
moisture for vegetation and habitats of the water cycle by recycling water
for aquatic life. from the Earth's surface.
The Process of Evaporation from Water
Bodies

Vapor Formation Air Interaction Environmental

Water molecules absorb heat
energy and transform into
vapor at the water's surface.
Vapor rises and interacts with
the air, ultimately
contributing to cloud
formation.
Influence
The surrounding
environment, including
temperature and humidity,
affects the rate of
evaporation.
The Role of Solar Radiation in
Evaporation

1 Solar Energy Absorption

The sun's heat energy provides the necessary thermal energy for the evaporation process.

2 Water Surface Interaction

Solar radiation causes water molecules to gain sufficient energy to escape as vapor.

3 Regulating Factors
The intensity of solar radiation impacts the rate of evaporation from water bodies.
Factors affecting the Rate of Evaporation
• Temperature exposure
• Surface area
• Moisture and humidity in the atmosphere
• Speed of wind
• Viscosity and intermolecular attraction among the molecules
• Atmospheric pressure
• Depth of the liquid body
• The difference in the vapor pressure to the atmosphere.
• Presence of foreign particles in the liquid
• Magnetic field influence
Temperature Exposure
The rate of evaporation is directly proportional to the temperature
after exposure to. This means that the temperature of a liquid will be its
rate of evaporation.
An increase in temperature increases the kinetic energy of the
atoms which in turn decreases the intermolecular attraction and
increases the intermolecular space. This leads to phase transition from
liquid to the gaseous phase hence, an increase in the rate of evaporation.
Surface Area
Like temperature, the surface area of liquid is also directly
dependent on the rate of evaporation. Liquid as a state of matter
has many properties associated with it but the one which is useful
here is its ability to take any form and shape.
Likewise, if a liquid is put in a container with more surface
area then some of its particles get easily exposed which increases
the rate of evaporation.
Moisture and Humidity in the Atmosphere
Moisture and humidity in the atmosphere are the water vapors
which already present in the atmosphere. When the air is humid
then it becomes very difficult for the air to aid in the process of
evaporation.
The rate of evaporation slows down due to the inability to the
conversion of water into water vapor. Hence, more is the more
moisture in the environment or the climate less will be the rate
of evaporation.
Speed of Wind
The speedy wind is the best aid for evaporation. A fast blowing
wind helps in increasing the kinetic energy of the water particles
and it also disperses the hanged water vapor in the environment
thereby providing room for evaporation.
Viscosity and Intermolecular attraction among
Molecules

Viscosity is the property of a molecule which indicates its fluidity.

So according to that viscosity and intermolecular attractions are
related to one another. If a liquid has high viscosity then it implies
that the intermolecular forces are strong which in turn decreases
the rate of evaporation and vice versa.
Atmospheric Pressure

Many pieces of research have shown that atmospheric pressure

has a great influence on the rate of evaporation. The places on the
earth where atmospheric pressure is less have shown a high rate
of evaporation.
Pressure is inversely proportional to temperature. So, high
atmospheric pressure brings the molecules closer to each other
by reducing spaces and increasing attraction thereby preventing
phase transition from liquid to gas.
Depth of the Liquid Body
Water or liquid evaporation is guided by many factors but there are
certain drivers which maintain that evaporation rate. For maintaining and
sustaining the rate of evaporation energy is required. This huge amount of
energy is called Latent heat of vaporization.
When water evaporation takes place the energy required for it is solar
radiation and many other radiative emissions. When these radiations hit the
surface of liquid these are penetrated to a certain depth according to the liquid
composition.
This stores the heat and decreases the temperature thereby; affecting
the rate of evaporation. Hence, more is the depth of the liquid body; the less
will be the rate of evaporation.
The difference in the Vapor pressure of the
Atmosphere and the Liquid

Differences in the vapor pressure of the atmosphere and the rate

at which the air leaves the surface is a basic factor influencing the
rate of evaporation.
The rate of evaporation always depends on this factor as it can be
a positive or negative outcome according to the difference.
Presence of Foreign particles in the Liquid
Impurities whether soluble or insoluble in water do affect the
rate of evaporation. Soluble impurities are dissolved in water under
dynamic equilibrium conditions where these impure particles occupy
the space between the water molecules. These soluble impurities
have higher boiling points than water. Due to this, the concentration
of soluble impurity is more in the water which increases the rate of
evaporation.
On the other hand, insoluble impurities do not have much
influence on the rate of evaporation because these settle down at
the bottom as sediments and do not change the composition of the
liquid.
Magnetic Field Influence

In recent times, it has been confirmed by many studies that,

like other traditional parameters, magnetic fields have a significant
effect on the rate of evaporation. When a polarizing external field
is applied to liquids, especially water then there is a change in the
bonding patterns existing in it.
The application of a static magnetic field under different
conditions affects the evaporation rate. Usually, it increases the
viscosity which in turn weakens the intermolecular forces thereby,
results in easy evaporation. A statistical study has shown that
magnetic influence can increase the rate of evaporation in water
even in low-temperature environments.
Measurement and Estimation of
Evaporation
1 Direct Measurement
Using instruments like pan
evaporimeters and lysimeters to directly
measure the water loss over time.
2 Estimation Methods
Utilizing formulas and models based on
meteorological data to estimate
evaporation rates.

3 Remote Sensing
Using satellite and aerial data to assess and predict evaporation over large and inaccessible
areas.
Impacts of Changes in Evaporation on the
Hydrologic Cycle

Climate Patterns Agriculture Ecosystem Health

Changes in evaporation affect
regional and global climate
patterns, influencing
temperature and precipitation.
Altered evaporation rates
impact water availability,
agricultural practices, and crop
yields.
Shifts in evaporation affect
water availability for
ecosystems, influencing
biodiversity and habitat
sustainability.
 Thank You
For Listening