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Exam 2- Chapter 4
Atmospheric Humidity
23
Meteorology
Undergraduate 2
03/08/2010

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Term
Evaporation
Definition
The process by which a liquid changes into a gas
Term
Condensation
Definition
The process by which water vapor becomes a liquid
Term
Precipitation
Definition
Any form of water particles- liquid or solid- that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground
Term
Hydrologic Cycle
Definition
A model that illustrates the movement and exchange of water among the earth, atmosphere, and oceans
Term
Sublimation
Definition
The process whereby ice changes directly into water vapor without melting
Term
Deposition
Definition
A process that occurs in subfreezing air when water vapor changes directly to ice without becoming liquid first
Term
Saturated (air)
Definition
An atmospheric condition whereby the level of water vapor is the maximum possible at the existing temperature and pressure
Term
Humidity
Definition
A general term that refers to the air's water vapor content
Term
Absolute Humidity
Definition
The mass of water vapor in a given volume of air
Term
Specific Humidity
Definition
The ratio of the mass of water vapor in a given parcel to the total mass of air in the parcel
Term
Mixing Ratio
Definition
The ratio of the mass of water vapor in a given volume of air to the mass of dry air
Term
Actual Vapor Pressure
Definition
The pressure exerted by the water vapor molecules in a given volume of air
Term
Saturation Vapor Pressure
Definition
The maximum amount of water vapor necessary to keep moist air in equilibrium with a surface of pure water or ice. Maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at any given temperature and pressure
Term
Relative Humidity
Definition
The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount required for saturation
Term
Supersaturation
Definition
A condition whereby the atmosphere contains more water vapor than is needed to produce saturation with respect to a flat surface of pure water or ice, and the relative humidity is greater than 100%
Term
Dew Point
Definition
The temperature to which air must be cooled for saturation to occur
Term
Frost Point
Definition
The temperature at which the air becomes saturated with respect to ice when cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor content
Term
Wet-Bulb Temperature
Definition
The lowest temperature that can be obtained by evaporating water into the air
Term
Heatstroke
Definition
A physical condition induced by a person's overexposure to high air temperatures, especially when accompanied by high humidity
Term
Heat Index
Definition
An index that combines air temperature and relative humidity to determine and apparent temperature- how hot it actually feels
Term
Apparent Temperature
Definition
What the air temperature "feels like" for various combinations of air temperature and relative humidity
Term
Psychrometer
Definition
An instrument used to measure the water vapor content of the air
Term
Hygrometer
Definition
An instrument designed to measure the air's water vapor content
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