Chapter 4 Flashcards
Water Vapor is most abundant in what atmosphere ?
Troposphere
What main source is water vapor from ?
Oceans
What is a Solid( phase of water)
Well Organized Structure/Hydrogen Bonds
Hexagonal
Molecules Locked into Place
Cannot Move but Vibrate in Position
What is a Liquid( phase of water)
Energy Breaks Hydrogen Bonds
Molecules Closer Together
Greater Density than Solid (Ice Floats)
What is a Gas(Phase of water)
Each Molecule Has Higher Energy Than in Liquid
Greater Molecular Distances
What does evaporation depend on ?
Water Temperature
Warmer Water More Energy, greater
the evaporation rate
Wind speed
Faster the wind, greater the
evaporation rate
Moisture content of air
Drier the air, greater the
evaporation rate
What is Evaporation ?
More Water Molecules Leaving Water Surface Than Returning
Subsaturated
What is Saturation?
Equal Numbers of Water Molecules Leaving Surface as Returning
Equilibrium
What is condensation?
More Water Molecules Returning Water Surface Than Leaving
Supersaturation
What does condensation depend on ?
Rate Depends on Temperature
Colder Water
Less Energy
When is condensation more likely to occur?
Condensation of water vapor into liquid water is more likely to occur when the vapor cools and slows, and attaches to nuclei.
Heated vapor moves so fast that it bounces away from condensation nuclei
What is water vapor pressure?
Pressure exerted by water vapor molecules in the air
Depends on the actual amount (or mass) of water vapor in air
Low water vapor pressure is defined as ?
Few molecules
small mass
high water vapor pressure is defined as ?
Many molecules
Large mass
What is saturation water vapor pressure?
The pressure that the water vapor molecules would exert if the air were saturated with vapor at a given temperature
