ENVIRON 222 Midterm: Exam 2 Study Guide
Document Summary
Understand why each property is important for the ocean or atmosphere. Polarity: is due to covalent bonding (sharing of electrons) between oxygen and hydrogen -- positive charge at one end of the molecule, negative charge on the other. Hydrogen bonding: weak bonds (no electron sharing); due to attraction of the positive and negative ends of h20. Present in all 3 phases in earth"s temperature range: ice, liquid, and vapor. Water has a very high heat capacity (higher than any solid or liquid except for ammonia) Large quantities of heat are required to raise temperature (~ Moderates coastal temperatures because water transports lots of heat and ocean temperatures are generally stable compared to terrestrial temperatures. Water has a very high latent heat of vaporization (higher than that of any other substance) Massive quantities of heat are required to vaporize liquid water. Key factor in atmospheric heat transport and in hurricane formation.
