Table of Contents
How does the evaporation of water affect temperature?
Evaporation rates are higher at higher temperatures because as temperature increases, the amount of energy necessary for evaporation decreases. In sunny, warm weather the loss of water by evaporation is greater than in cloudy and cool weather.
How does water vapor affect climate change?
With climate change, Earth is getting warmer as greenhouse gases build up and trap more heat in the atmosphere. Increased water vapor in the air can also further increase warming. Water vapor is actually a greenhouse gas, which traps heat in the atmosphere and causes temperatures to rise.
What is the effect of water on the air temperature?
Atmosphere. Atmospheric heat transfer occurs at the water’s surface. As heat always flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature, this transfer can go both ways 6. When the air is cold, warm water will transfer energy to the air and cool off.
How do greenhouse gases cause climate warming?
A greenhouse gas is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere. By increasing the heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases are responsible for the greenhouse effect, which ultimately leads to global warming.
Why is water so important in controlling Earth’s climate?
Why is water so important for controlling Earth’s climate? Water vapor is one of the greenhouse gases that help trap heat. The water in oceans and lakes stores the energy radiated by the sun and releases it slowly. Water can absorb and store a lot of energy while only warming up by a few degrees.
How does water and climate affect each other?
Discover how water and climate affect each other by watching the video in the graphic above. With climate change, Earth is getting warmer as greenhouse gases build up and trap more heat in the atmosphere. These warmer temperatures cause increased evaporation of water from places like oceans, lakes, streams and soil.
Why does water evaporate faster in hot weather?
Water evaporates faster if the temperature is higher, the air is dry, and if there’s wind. The same is true outside in the natural environment. Evaporation rates are generally higher in hot, dry and windy climates.
What causes the loss of water by evaporation?
In sunny, warm weather the loss of water by evaporation is greater than in cloudy and cool weather. Humidity, or water vapor content of the air, also has an effect on evaporation. The lower the relative humidity, the drier the air, and the higher the evaporation rate.
How does wind affect the rate of evaporation?
Wind moving over a water or land surface can also carry away water vapor, essentially drying the air, which leads to increased evaporation rates. So, sunny, hot, dry, windy conditions produce higher evaporation rates.