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Ch 10 - Water in the Atmosphere11th Fundamentals of Physical Geography
Water Vapour Volume
How much of the atmosphere is actually made up of water vapour?
How much of the atmosphere is actually made up of water vapour?
FACT
Water Vapour Content
- Range: Varies from 0% to 4% by volume of the atmosphere.
- Distribution:
- Highest: Over the warm and wet tropics (up to 4%).
- Lowest: Over dry deserts and cold polar regions (less than 1%).
- Vertical Variation: Decreases rapidly with altitude (nearly 50% is found within 2000m).
Prism Memory Hook
0-4% (Tropics to Poles)
Absolute vs. Relative Humidity
What is the difference between the 'actual' water in the air and how 'full' the air feels?
What is the difference between the 'actual' water in the air and how 'full' the air feels?
CONCEPT
Humidity Types
- Absolute Humidity: The actual weight of water vapour per unit volume of air (expressed in g/m³). It changes if air expands/contracts.
- Relative Humidity (RH): The percentage of moisture present compared to the full capacity of the air at that temperature.
- Key Relation: RH changes with temperature. Warmer air holds more moisture -> lowers RH (if moisture stays constant).
Prism Memory Hook
Absolute = Weight (g); Relative = Percentage (%)
Saturation and Dew Point
When does air decide it can't hold any more water?
When does air decide it can't hold any more water?
DEFINITION
Saturation
- Definition: When air holds moisture to its full capacity at a given temperature, it is saturated (100% RH).
- Dew Point: The specific temperature at which a given sample of air becomes saturated.
- Implication: If temperature falls below the dew point, condensation begins.
Prism Memory Hook
A premium mnemonic for this topic is available in the Prism App.
Also in this chapter
43 more cards to study in Prism
- 4Latent Heat of Vaporisation
- 5Adiabatic Lapse Rates (DALR vs WALR)
- 6Hygroscopic Condensation Nuclei
- 7Dew vs. Frost
- 8Fog vs. Mist
- 9Smog
- 10Cloud Classification: The Four Families
- 11Cirrus Clouds
- 12Cumulus vs. Cumulonimbus
- 13Cloud Height Grouping
- 14Precipitation
- 15Sleet vs. Hail
- 16Convectional Rainfall
- 17Orographic Rainfall
- 18Cyclonic Rainfall
- 19World Rainfall: Latitudinal Pattern
- 20Rainfall: Coast vs. Interior
- 21Westerlies vs. Trade Winds Rainfall
- 22Major Precipitation Regimes
- 23Atmospheric Stability
- 24Atmospheric Instability
- 25Factors Affecting Evaporation
- 26Global Rainfall Regimes (Specifics)
- 27Condensation Conditions
- 28Radiation Fog vs. Advection Fog
- 29Cloud Opacity & Sunlight
- 30Weather Forecasting: Dew Point
- 31Seasonal Distribution of Rainfall
- 32Sleet Formation
- 33Cloud Heights (Quick Reference)
- 34Latent Heat & Storm Energy
- 35Rainbow Formation
- 36Cirrus vs. Stratus (Visual ID)
- 37The Hydrological Cycle Balance
- 38Absolute Stability vs. Instability
- 39Specific Humidity
- 40Cloud Nomenclature Prefixes
- 41Rainfall Intensity Classification
- 42Measuring Humidity
- 43Phase Change & Temperature
- 44Sublimation
- 45Measurement of Cloud Cover
- 46High Clouds: Cirrostratus vs. Cirrocumulus
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11th Fundamentals of Physical Geography
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