A parcel of air has a current temperature of 25° C and the amount of water vapor in the air is 15 grams / cubic meter. Study the graph above and answer the following questions: What is the current water vapor capacity of the parcel? ______________ What is the relative humidity of the parcel? Show calculation; _______________ What is the dew point of the parcel? __________________ The temperature is expected to fall to 15°C tonight. Will it rain? ___________ What data supports your answer?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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A parcel of air has a current temperature of 25° C and the amount of water vapor in the
air is 15 grams / cubic meter. Study the graph above and answer the following questions:

What is the current water vapor capacity of the parcel? ______________
What is the relative humidity of the parcel? Show calculation; _______________
What is the dew point of the parcel? __________________

The temperature is expected to fall to 15°C tonight. Will it rain? ___________
What data supports your answer?  

Absolute humidity is the percentage of water vapor in the air at any given time. The absolute
humidity varies from 0-5%.
However when the weatherman discusses humidity, he is referring to relative humidity:
RELATIVE HUMIDITY = the amount of water vapor in the air (grams /cubic meter)
the water vapor capacity of the air (grams/ cubic meter)
The water vapor capacity of a parcel of air varies with temperature. Warm air can hold more water
vapor than cold air before it reaches its capacity. At capacity, a parcel is saturated (full).
The temperature at which a parcel is saturated is called the dew point. The dew point depends
upon the amount of water vapor in the air.
When the temperature of a parcel cools to the dew point, the relative humidity of the parcel is
100%. Under normal conditions, relative humidity cannot exceed 100%. Therefore, when a parcel
is cooled below its dew point, it must release its excess water vapor. The excess vapor condenses
from its gaseous state to its liquid state and we have: clouds, fog or rain.
Water Vapor Capacity (gr/m3)
40
22
16
8
0++++++++
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Dewpoint Temperature C
Example: A parcel of air has a current temperature of 25° C and the amount of water vapor in the
air is 15 grams / cubic meter. Study the graph above and answer the following questions:
What is the current water vapor capacity of the parcel?
What is the relative humidity of the parcel? Show calculation;__
What is the dew point of the parcel?
The temperature is expected to fall to 15°C tonight. Will it rain?
What data supports your answer?
Transcribed Image Text:Absolute humidity is the percentage of water vapor in the air at any given time. The absolute humidity varies from 0-5%. However when the weatherman discusses humidity, he is referring to relative humidity: RELATIVE HUMIDITY = the amount of water vapor in the air (grams /cubic meter) the water vapor capacity of the air (grams/ cubic meter) The water vapor capacity of a parcel of air varies with temperature. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air before it reaches its capacity. At capacity, a parcel is saturated (full). The temperature at which a parcel is saturated is called the dew point. The dew point depends upon the amount of water vapor in the air. When the temperature of a parcel cools to the dew point, the relative humidity of the parcel is 100%. Under normal conditions, relative humidity cannot exceed 100%. Therefore, when a parcel is cooled below its dew point, it must release its excess water vapor. The excess vapor condenses from its gaseous state to its liquid state and we have: clouds, fog or rain. Water Vapor Capacity (gr/m3) 40 22 16 8 0++++++++ -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Dewpoint Temperature C Example: A parcel of air has a current temperature of 25° C and the amount of water vapor in the air is 15 grams / cubic meter. Study the graph above and answer the following questions: What is the current water vapor capacity of the parcel? What is the relative humidity of the parcel? Show calculation;__ What is the dew point of the parcel? The temperature is expected to fall to 15°C tonight. Will it rain? What data supports your answer?
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