WEAX 201 Module 3 Study Guide (Answered)

WEAX 201 Module 3 Study Guide
Latent heat
When water changes phase, it transfers _________which play an important role in
energy exchange between the ocean and atmosphere and in convective weather
development.
60%
Water in gas form (water vapor) is the most abundant atmospheric greenhouse gas and
accounts for _____of the atmospheric greenhouse effect.
Evaporation
Water vapor enters the atmosphere via _______ and transpiration by plants over land.
Clouds
Once in the atmosphere, water vapor can condense into liquid, or deposit to ice, to form
________.
Precipitation
Water leaves the atmosphere via ________.
Water
_____exists in all three phases in the earth's atmosphere: liquid water, ice, and water
vapor.
Condensation
Water molecules leave the water surface via evaporation, and attach to the surface via
________.
Exceeds
When evaporation _______condensation, the air over the water surface is unsaturated.
Equals
When evaporation _______condensation, the air over a water surface is saturated.
Expanding or contracting
The parcel's pressure always adjusts to that of the environment by___________.
Unsaturated
Air not at its maximum capacity for water vapor is _______ atmospheric conditions
allow for water molecules to remain as a vapor.
Saturated
Air at its maximum capacity for water vapor is ________ atmospheric conditions do not
allow water to remain in vapor form, and water molecules start to condense into liquid.
Temperature
Air's capacity for water vapor is highly ______ dependent.
Increases
As air temperature ________, water vapor molecules move faster, and are more likely
to stay in vapor form and less likely to condense to liquid.
Cooled
Saturation (and thus condensation) becomes more likely as air is _______.
Warm, cold
_____ air has a greater capacity for water vapor than ______ air.
More
Warm air can contain ______ water vapor molecules without becoming saturated,
compared to cold air.
Humidity

, A general term for some description or measurement of the amount of water vapor in
the air.
Absolute humidity
Measures the density (mass/volume) of water vapor in an air parcel.
Constant
If the amount of water vapor in a parcel remains constant with no change in volume,
absolute humidity would remain ______.
Rises or descends
With no change in water vapor content, absolute humidity will change as the parcel
volume changes, i.e. as it_______.
Vapor pressure (e)
The partial pressure exerted by the water vapor molecules within an air parcel.
Increases, increases
At a given air pressure, as the percentage of water vapor molecules in an air parcel
________, the amount of pressure exerted by the vapor (vapor pressure) _____.
Saturation vapor pressure (es)
The pressure that water vapor molecules woudl exert if the air were saturated with
water vapor at a given temperature.
Maximum
Saturation vapor pressure is a measure of the air's _______ capacity for water vapor, or
the saturation limit of air.
True
As temperature increases, air's capacity for water vapor increases => saturation vapor
pressure increases.
Higher
_____saturation vapor pressure means the air has a greater capacity for water vapor.
Relative humidity
The ratio of the actual amount of vapor in the air to its capacity for water.
Percentage
Relative humidity is the ratio of the actual vapor pressure to the saturation vapor
pressure expressed as a _____.
Changes
Relative humidity will change if water vapor content, or the capacity for water vapor
______.
Dew Point Temperature (Td)
The temperature to which a parcel of air (at a constant pressure and water vapor
content) would have to be cooled in order to reach saturation.
High dew point temperature
High water vapor content
Low dew point temperature
Low water vapor content
Increase
Evaporation of water into the air (i.e. during the heat of the day) will _______ the dew
point temperature.
Decrease