Clkausen_Atmospheric Humidity-1
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University of Kansas *
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Course
104
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Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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3
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Module 05, Activity 01
GEOG 104: Principles of Physical Geography
Atmospheric Humidity
Part 1.
The illustration above shows a typical vertical cross section in the atmosphere, with the red curve
indicating temperature at different heights in the atmosphere. In the following we will only consider
adiabatic
processes, that is, a type of thermodynamic process that occurs without transferring heat or
mass between the thermodynamic system and its environment.
Answer the following prompts to explain why the wet adiabatic lapse rate is smaller than the dry
adiabatic lapse rate.
How is lapse rate defined?
o
The rate at which atmospheric temperatures decrease as altitude increases.
What happens as an air parcel moves up in the atmosphere?
o
The air parcel expands as it rises, and this expansion causes the temperature of the air
parcel to decrease.
What happens to the relative humidity, and why?
o
Air will have a higher relative humidity if the air is cooler and a lower relative humidity if
the air is warmer.
What happens at the level of condensation?
o
Condensation is triggered when air rises high enough to reach its saturation point and
clouds form.
What happens when the air continues to rise?
o
As the air ascends above its lifting cloud condensation level, the rate at which it cools is
reduced.
And why is the wet adiabatic lapse rate smaller than the dry adiabatic one?
o
Because moist air condenses out its water vapor.
Part 2.
The map below shows the relative humidity in the contiguous United States, on Monday, June 30, 2014.
What areas have high humidity and what areas have low humidity?
o
The western states (excluding coastlines) have a lower humidity. However, Eastern and
Midwestern states and coastlines have a higher humidity.
How are these regions different?
o
The western states are located near a much warmer body of water compared to the
east.
What factors control humidity?
o
Air temperature, warm bodies of water, and air movement.
Try to explain this map.
o
This map illustrates the humidity of different regions within the United States. These
humidity levels differ from region to region because of different factors like air
temperature, proximity to warm bodies of water, and air movement.
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