Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Question 1

Distribution of water on Earth

Answer 1

Ocean = 97.22%
Freshwater = 2.78%
-Surface = 77.78 (majority = ice and glaciers) 
-Deep groundwater = 11.02%
-Groundwater = 11.02%
-Soil moisture = .18%

Examples: Lake Baykal in Russia (unfrozen fresh water), and Amazon River

Question 2

Heat properties of water

Answer 2

Ice = solid. -4C - -29C, 91% density of liquid

Water = liquid (takes liquid heat to be transformed from ice)

Vapor = gas phase. Molecules move independently from each other

Question 3

Phase change: water

Answer 3

Ice –LH–> water –SH–> water –LH–> vapor

Question 4

Calories of water transformation

Answer 4

1g of ice –80 calories–> 1g of water
1g of water –1 calorie per 1 degree C–> warmer water
1g of water –540 calories–> vapor

Question 5

Water transformation

Answer 5

To transform 1g of ice at 0C to 100C vapor:

80 cal to melt + 100 cal to increase temperature + 540 cal to vaporize = 720 cal

Question 6

Relative humidity

Answer 6

Humidity: water vapor in the air

Relative humidity: actual vapor in the air/maximum vapor possible (changes with temperature) X100

Question 7

Saturation

Answer 7

When relative humidity is at 100% (clouds, fog, precipitation)

Dew point temperature = air temperature

Question 8

Adiabatic process

Answer 8

Warming or cooling rates for a parcel of expanding or compressing air

Air expands –> cool down
Air compresses –> heats

Question 9

Stability

Answer 9

Parcel: a body of air with a certain temperature/humidity (buoyant, balloon-like)
Stability: tendency to remain in the same place

Question 10

Cloud types

Answer 10

Altitude

• high: cirrustratus
• middle: altostratus
• low: stratus
• multi: nimbostratus

Type

• flat: stratiform
• puffy: cumuliform
• wispy: cirroform

Question 11

Fog

Answer 11

Clouds at the ground level = saturated conditions –> condensation

Advection fog: horizontal air
Radiation fog: quick cooling of ground

Question 12

Atmospheric stability

Answer 12

DAR (dry adiabatic rate) = ~10C/1000m

MAR (moist adiabatic rate) = ~6C/1000M

ELR (environmental lapse rate: actual lapse rate at a given moment