Lecture 10 Flashcards
Why does water play such an important role in the atmosphere when it comprises a small percentage of the total?
Water is the only constituent that changes phases
Why is phase change important in relation to the atmoshpere?
The conversion of energy between sensible and latent heat.
Energy in relation to the phase changes of water…
Release and absorption of latent heat
RH(Relative Humidity)=100%
Air saturated with water
RH(Relative Humidity)>100%
Air is supersaturated
RH(Relative Humidity)<100%
Air is undersaturated
Second Law of Thermodynamics
In all spontaneous processes, entropy is either increasing or not changing. (A decrease in entropy requires an outside input of energy)
- If entropy increases, the process is “irreversible’
- if entropy stays the same, the process is “reversible” and the system is in equilibrium
Which of these have low entropy or high entropy? Liquid, gas, latent heat, sensible heat
Low entropy-liquid, latent heat
High entropy- gas, sensible heat
“reservoir”
amount or pool of material in a given component of the Earth System
What is the formula for residence time?
Reservoir/Inflow
What is the relationship of the hydrolic cycle to the energy budget?
Water takes energy in the form of latent heat from the tropics to the poles. The water then releases sensible heat into the atmosphere.
What atmospheric changes generally occur in low pressure areas?
Clouds form and precipitation occurs
