ong>Answer:

MOISTURE, CONDENSATION AND PRECIPITATION

Physical States of Water

1. Solid state (e.g. ice) occurs at temperature below

freezing point 00 C or 320 F. (Ice)

2. Gaseous state (e.g. water vapor) occurs at

temperatures 1000 C or 2120 F

3. Liquid state (e.g. sea water) occurs between freezing

and boiling point temperatures (320 F - 2120 F).

Sources of Moisture in the Atmosphere

i) Evaporation from oceans, lakes, rivers & soil

ii) Transpiration from plants and other vegetation

iii) Perspiration from people and animals.

IV) Sublimation: change from ice to water vapor

HUMIDITY:

Absolute Humidity is the maximum amount of water vapor that a GIVEN column of AIR can hold. Relative Humidity expressed as a percentage (%) is the amount of water vapor in a column of air compared to the total amount of moisture that the same column of air can hold. When water vapor becomes saturated, it reaches its capacity for holding water so further cooling results in condensation and possibly rainfall.

CONDENSATION AND PRECIPITATION

Condensation is a process by which a gas such as water vapor is changed into liquid water. When moisture cools and reaches saturation point, the tiny particles of water CONDENSES into larger drops of water.

Forms of Condensation:

Dew: Tiny drops of water formed when condensation of

water vapor occur at or near the surface of the earth.

Frost: It is a frozen condensation that occurs when air at

ground level is super cooled below the freezing

point.

Fog: A mass of tiny drops of water that form when water

vapor condenses on a nuclei near the earth's surface.

Clouds: A cloud is a mass of tiny drops of water that

results from condensation which takes place high

up in the atmosphere.