GEOG 1112 Lecture 6: Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Water and Atmospheric Moisture
❖ Water’s Unique Properties
➢ Pure water is colorless, odorless, and tasteless
➢ Pure water rarely occurs in nature because it is a good solvent
➢ Liquid water density is 1g/cm ^3
➢ Human body contains 70% water
➢ Water is the only substance that occurs as a solid liquid and gas
❖ Phase changes and Heat Exchange
➢ Phase change are when water changes its state
➢ Freezing and melting
➢ Condensing and evaporating
➢ Depositing and sublimating
➢ Water’s physical state changes, not its temperature
❖ Humidity
➢ Refers to water vapor in the air
➢ Primarily a function of the air temperature and the water vapor temperature
➢ Relative humidity
➢
➢ Example
▪ Question 1
• T = 10 degree
• VP = 10mb
• RH
▪ Question 2
• T= 20 Degree
• Vp= 10mb
•
▪ Question 3
• T=30 Degree
• Vp= 10mb
•
▪ Question 4
• Vp= 10mb
• RH= 100%
•
❖ Maximum Vapor Pressure
➢ Saturation vapor pressure is the max possible water vapor as measured by the pressure
it exerts (mb)
➢ Saturation vapor pressure increases as the air temp. increases
➢ Saturation vapor pressure is lower over ice than water of the same temperature
❖ Maxumum Specific Humidity
