METR 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Nimbostratus Cloud, Dew Point, Wet-Bulb Temperature

• School: SJSU
• Department: Meteorology and Climate Science
• Course: METR 010
• Professor: Henry Bartholomew

Document Summary

Evaporation: phase change of water from liquid to vapor (cooling process) Condensation: phase change of water from vapor to liquid (warming process) Precipitation: condensed cloud droplets (or ice) that are large enough to fall to the ground (such as rain) Suppose you have a jar of liquid (water). At the surface, an amount of water molecules are evaporating into vapor, and another amount are condensing into liquid water: If the number of evaporating molecules is greater than condensing. If the number of condensing molecules is greater than evaporating, net condensation is occurring. Place a lid on the container, to prevent air from escaping. Eventually, the amount of evaporation and condensation are equal. Some water vapor molecules would blow away, and thus an imbalance would occur, creating a new requirement for saturation. Additionally, the temperature of the air can enhance the amount of evaporation. The warmer the water, the greater rate of evaporation.