Water and the Atmosphere

Water in the Atmosphere

How Does Water Move Through the Atmosphere

​Water Cycle

Water vapor enters the atmosphere by evaporation from the oceans and other bodies of water and leaves by condensation.

Evaporation-the process by which molecules of liquid water escape into the air after becomming water vapor.

Condensation-process where water vapor becomes liquid water

Water moving through the Atmosphere

​Water vapor added by living things

Water enters roots of plants, rises to the leaves, and is released into the air as water vapor.

Animals also release water vapor every time they exhale.

Some water in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds.

Rain and snow fall as precipitation.

Runoff collects.

Evaporation sends water back into the atmosphere.

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​Water cycle

Psychrometer-has a wetbulb thermometer and dry-bulb thermometer

Wet-bulb has a wet cloth and is cooled as water evaporates.

If humidity is high, the wet-bulb temperature will not change much.

If humidity is low, the wet-bulb temperature will drop drastically.

The dry-bulb thermometer tells the ambient temperature.

Measuring Humidity

Percentage of water vapor that is actually in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold.

Relative Humidity

What is relative humidity and How is it measured?

Multiple Choice

In the water cycle, water returns to Earth as what?

• evaporation

• condensation

• water vapor

• humidity

Multiple Choice

During dry weather, the water level in a small pond drops becasue of what?

• runoff

• condensation

• evaporation

• humidity

Multiple Choice

In the water cycle, water vapor leaves the atmosphere by what?

• runoff

• humidity

• evaporation

• condensation

Multiple Choice

What can be found by comparing the temperatures of wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers?

• Relative humidity

• condensation

• evaporation

• runoff

Multiple Choice

Warm air can hold (more or less) water vapor than cool air?

• more

• less