GPHY 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Vapor Pressure, Cool Air, Air Mass
Document Summary
Water on the earth is uniquely found in all three states: solid, liquid and gas. Transformation between states is closely linked to energy supplied by the sun through the climate system. Movement of the water, especially vapour is further linked to climate. Movement of liquid and solid water (ice) is driven by gravity. Water mass is conservative, hence movements are in a closed cycle. What drives the transformation of the state changes: energy supplied by the sun and through climate system. Conservative waters mass, how it is carried through the systems without gain or loss, no transformation: account for water, quantify it and find changes over time. Transformations of states require tremendous amounts of energy. Evaporating from liquid to water vapour absorb latent heat. Condense from vapour to liquid water release latent heat (during condensation process) Liquid to solid requires freezing, releases energy.
