Earth Sciences 2240F/G Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Latent Heat, Ozone Layer, Cool Air
12 Dec 2017
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Unit 3: chapter #10 - the physics and chemistry of water and air. Layers: troposphere, surface to 12-20 km, contains 80% of the atmo mass (thickest near equator 18km and thinnest near poles. Decreasing pressure decreases density: air density is lowest at, high elevation, on a hot day, when the atmospheric pressure is low, air density is highest at. Low elevations: when temperature is low, and when pressure is high, warm air is less dense and therefore rises. Warm air rises and expands adiabatically at high altitudes. Adiabatic processes occur without addition or subtraction of heat from any external source. Troposphere has no heat so expansion of air uses up energy and temp then falls. Falling air compress and heats up as adiabatically: due to temperature gradient in troposphere air is constantly rising and falling creating convection cells. Latent heating occurs as a wet process driven by water vapor weighs less than the mixture of gases that form the atmosphere.
