Direct change of ice to water vapor w/o going through the liquid phase is called:
sublimation
Rate of condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere (forming cloud droplets) is determined mainly by:
the density of condensation nuclei
"Saturated" means:
1. The rates of evaporation & condensation are in equilibrium @ the current temperature
2. Any lowering of the current temp will result in active condensation
Most of the movement of water in the hydrologc cycle is between:
the ocean & the atmosphere
A relative humidity of 100% means:
1. the rate of evaporation & condensation are in equilibrium at the current temp
2. any lowering of the current temp will result in active condensation
The type of cloud w/ the greatest vertical extent
cumulonimbus
Latent heat energy is released by water molecules during:
condensation
The most adiabatic rate (MAR) is less than the dry adiabatic rate (DAR) because:
the latent heat of condensation is released intothe rising parcel
Rising air, warmed by the release of latent heat of condensation cools @ the rate called the:
moist adiabatic rate
A sling psychrometer is used to determine:
absolute humidity
Latent heat energy is absorbed by water molecules during:
evaporation
If vapor pressure remains constant, the highest relative humidity normally occurs:
just before sunrise
The rate of evaporation of water in the atmosphere (cloud droplets) is determined by:
the temp of the water
The atmospheric gas with the greatest proportion:
Nitrogen
Precipitation in measured with:
a rain guage
Low annual precipitation rates are normally found in regions associated with:
subtropical high pressure zones
The altitude @ which rising air reaches its dew point temperature is called:
the lifting condensation level
The environmental lapse rate
is variable by time & region
Stability in an air parcel refers to:
the tendancy of the parcel to remain @ a certain altitude, or to move vertically
The direct change of water vapor to ice w/o going through the liquid phase is called:
sublimation
More than half of the atmospheric methane is generated:
in rice paddies & flatulent cows
Active condensastion in the air requires adequate vapor pressure, another important component is:
condensation nuclei
The sky is blue because:
the air molecules scatter blue wavelength light most efficiently
Warming a parcel of air:
1. increases the rate of evaporation inside the parcel
2. decreases the density of the air parcel
3. may cause the parcel to move higher in the atmosphere
Water is not a renewable resource:
false
Side A:
-More likely to have precipitation
- Side to have advection fog
Side B
- Most likey to be Desert
- Side to have rain shadow
A cold air mass moves south over southen Alabama in October. The next day is clear but fog has formed over many ponds and lakes. What kind of fog is it?
evaporation
When a parcel of air rises through the troposphere:
it expands and its temp decreases as the surrounding atmospheric pressure decreases
The most effective atmospheric gas in producting the "greenhouse effect" is:
water vapor
Cloud formation is very likey if:
the ELR is less than both the DAR & the MAR
The source of all groundwater is:
recharge wells
An exotic river:
Nile
Colorado
The river w/ the largest drainage area ( watershed) in N.A is:
Mississippi
Drip irrigation is technically more elaborate and much more expensive to instal than conventinal irrigation methods, but it can be approriate & useful for certian crops because:
much more produce can be harvested per unit area
A stream that flows in equilibrium between its flow rate, suspended load, and the topgraphy of its floorplain is called:
a graded stream
Watersheds are defined by:
drainage divides
A central peak, or a dome or a volcanic mountian, generally produces what kind of drainage patterns:
radial
The maximum velocity line in a stream is:
@ the center and near the surface, corresponding with the deepest parts of the stream channel
A river is 100 meters wide, 5 meters deep, and flows @ the rate of 2.3 mph. What is the total discharge
1,150m3/hr
the area where the fresh water in a river meets the salt water of the ocean
estuary
a water-bearing rock layer is called:
an aquifer
Which has the greatest deficient?
B
Earths total water
326 million
Ocean total water
97%
Fresh water
2%
Ground water
22.2%
Surface water
77.8%
Latent Heat
heat being addes that cannot be measured or identified
Dew point
condensation takes over for evaporation
when evap rate & condensation rate are equal
Equlibrium vapor pressure
equal evaporation & condensation
The equilibrim (saturation) vapor pressure
the vapor pressure @ which the rates of evaporation & condensation are equal @ a partiular temp
Environmental Lapse Rate
measured on daily bases
Inversion
cool air turns warm & cools again
Dry adiabatic rate (DAR)
rising parcel of dry air expands
temp decreases
10oc per 1000 meters
Moist adiabatic rate (MAR)
rising parcel of moist air expands
temp decreases
temp reaches dew point/ makes cloud
5oc per 1000
Lifting condensation level
level that clouds base forms
Parcel lifting mechanisms
convection
orographic
convergence
Convection
caused by uneven heating of ground
Orographic
ascending air cools adiabatically to dew point, water vapor condenses (DAR)
decending air warms adiabatically
windward side = wind
leeward side = desert
high percepitation
equatorial region / trade winds
when an air mass passes from a maritime source region to a warmer continental region, heating from the warmer land causes lifting in the air mass
What makes clouds
MAR
Fog =
when dew-point temp @ ground level are nearly identical
Advection fog
when air migrates from one place to another where saturated conditions exist
when warm air comes over cooler bodies of water
Evaporation fog
when water molecules evaporate from the water surface in to the cold overlying air, humidifying the air
Upslope fog
forms stratus clouds @ the level of saturation
Valley fog/ Tule fog
radiation fog
warm air over cool ground by radiation
Radiation fog
when radiative cooling of a surface chills the air layer directly above the surface to te dew-point temp
ELR > DAR & MAR
No clouds
ELR < DAR & MAR
Storm
Cumulus
fair weather
Cumulonimbus
rain cloud/ thunderstorms
Clouds by ground are made of:
water
Higher clouds are made of:
ice
Stratus
layer clouds
Condensation nucleus
dust, particles, smoke, salt, crystals, aerosols
Fronts
meeting of air masses
Tropical Cyclones
hurricanes & typhoons
Marine layer
low laying air close to waters surface
Air Masses
form over land & take on the lands characteristics
Mp
Maritime polar
Mt
Maritime Tropical
Cp
Contiential Polar
cA
Continential Artic
Why does cold air move faster than warm air
more dense
acculded front
where air masses meet
Midlatitude Cyclone
large circulating wind systems centered on a low pressure region where winds are converging and rising
Elements of Hydrologic Cycle
water
evaportation & transpiration
precipitation
movement
Precipitation
reaches earths surface, evaporates, flows overland or soaks into ground
Inflitration
soaking into ground
Percolation
move vertically though soil & rock
Permability
water can be soaked up or passes though
Surface aquifer
water from above
Aquifer
rock layer permeable to groundwater
Potential evapotranspiration
POTET
amount of water the would evaporate and transpire under optimum moisture conditions
Deficit
DEFIC
Actual evapotranspiration
DEFIC-POTET= ACTET
Surplus
SURPL
overflow
Moisture Storage
STRGE
Water balance equation
Precip = Actet + Surplus + Storge
Water table
upper limit of the water that collects in the zone of saturation
Most water use
Theroelectric
Comsumptive use of water
water lost in evaporation
Drip irrigaton
for produce
greater crop yeild
Aquifer recharge area
surface area where water enters an aquifer to recharge it
Erosion
wind, water & ice dissolve or remove surface materical
