Water in the Atmosphere
Weather and Climate Day 3
Objectives
• Today I will be able to:
– ___________the most important ________in the
atmosphere.
– Compare and contrast _____________and
____________________________
Key Points - Moisture
• Water vapor is the most important gas for
understanding atmospheric processes.
• Water vapor makes up 0-4 % of atmospheric gases.
• Air that has reached its water vapor capacity is said
to be saturated.
• Warm, saturated air contains more water vapor
than cold air.
• Relative humidity is the ratio of air’s water-vapor
content to its capacity to hold water vapor at that
same temperature.
Water in the Atmosphere
• Water exists in three different forms.
• What are they?
1. _________Examples: _____________________
2. _________ Examples: _____________________
3. _________ Examples: _____________________
• How do each of these forms of water
influence weather?
Water in the Atmosphere
• When it comes to understanding
________________________, water ______
is the most important ______in the
atmosphere.
• Why do you think water vapor is so
important?
Water in the Atmosphere
• Even though water vapor is important, it only
makes up from ________% of the atmospheric
gases.
• When have you felt water vapor at close to
4%?
• What about 0%?
• How do you know?
– Water vapor is the ______________that you
___________in the ___________!
Water in the Atmosphere
• What do you think the word “SATURATED”
means?
• What do you think it would mean if air is
Saturated?
• Air that has _________________________ __
_____________________is said to be
saturated.
Water in the Atmosphere
• ____________, saturated air contains
___________ water vapor than cold air.
• When have you noticed the humidity more, in
the summer or in the winter?
• That’s because ____________________can
hold _____________________!
Water in the Atmosphere
• Relative humidity is the ________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
• Relative humidity indicates __________the air
is to saturation, _______the actual quantity of
water vapor in the air.
• Relative Humidity _____________________.
• __________air _______________its relative
humidity.
• __________air _______________ its relative
humidity.
Water in the Atmosphere
• Relative Humidity –
• Why does lowering the air temperature cause
Relative humidity to increase?
– Because colder air ________________as much water
vapor!
• Why does increasing air temperature cause
relative humidity to decrease?
– Because warm air can ____________water vapor and it
will take more water vapor for it to become
_____________________.
Check In Questions
Answer the following questions:
1. What gas is most important for understanding
atmospheric processes?
2. Water vapor makes up what fraction of
atmospheric gases?
3. Which holds more water vapor: warm air or cool
air?
4. Henderson has a humid climate. What are
evidences of humidity that you have seen?
5. How is the humidity different from the
summertime to the wintertime?
6. Why is the air in buildings so dry in the winter?
Matching- answer A, B or C for each of
the situations.
Situation
1. Water vapor is added
2. Air temperature
decreases
3. Water vapor is removed
4. Air temperature
increases
Change in Relative Humidity:
A. Increases
B. No change
C. Decreases
Venn Diagram
• Compare and contrast Saturation with Relative
Humidity.
• Include at least one thing in each circle.
Measuring Moisture
• Invent a machine that measures Relative
Humidity and Water Saturation in the air.
1. Draw a picture of the machine
2. Write a detailed description of how the
machine works.
3. Create instructions for how to use the
machine.
•
You will be judged based on creativity and
neatness. Be specific about how it works!