Humidity, Saturation and Stability---Chapter 6

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter the student should be able to:

identify the principal reservoirs in the global hydrologic system

distinguish among the various phases change processes of water

describe how the water vapor concentration of air is quantified

compute the relative humidity from either the mixing ratio or the vapor pressure

explain how and why relative humidity is temperature dependent

distinguish between expansional cooling and compressional warming

explain how atmospheric stability is determined

plot a sounding on a Stuve thermodynamic diagram

describe how atmospheric stability affects vertical motion of air and cloud formation

list the various lifting processes that operate within the atmosphere