ATMO 336 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Dynamic Equilibrium, Fluid Parcel, Dew Point

• School: University of Arizona
• Department: Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: ATMO 336
• Professor: Dale Ward

Document Summary

Water is the only substance that exists in all three phases at temperatures found on the earth. Concentration of water vapor varies greatly from place to place. More water vapor is seen in warmer areas. Water vapor is extremely important in the atmosphere. Transforms into both liquid and solid cloud particles that fall to earth as precipitation. When condensed into clouds, large amounts of latent heat is released into the atmosphere. Tro(cid:374)gly a(cid:271)sor(cid:271)s i(cid:374)frared radiatio(cid:374), (cid:373)aki(cid:374)g it i(cid:373)porta(cid:374)t for earth"s heat-energy balance. Energy must be absorbed or released for water to change phases. Water vapor has the highest internal energy per gram of water. Lower to higher internal energy requires the addition of energy. Higher to lower internal energy requires the release of energy. Latent heat energy is what must be added or released for phase changes. Does not cause the temperature of water to change, only the phase.