atmosphere

Atmospheric Moisture

Case Green

created on

5/9/2002

This page is to introduce you to the concept of atmospheric moisture and help to understand the processes involved in hydrologic cycle. The page was created for and is dedicated to ES 111 Introduction to Earth Science Lab, taught at Emporia State University . My current knowledge of this subject is to be credited to this course material and the instructor. The information presented on this page does come from various sources referenced at the bottom of this page.

The Three Phases of Water

Image taken from: www.usatoday.com/weather/wwatphse.htm

Three Stages Water can Exist in the Atmosphere

While water takes up a minute percentage of the matter the makes up the atmosphere, it is the most crucial element of all the atmospheric elements. The explanation for such a small percentage is due to the fact that it is found to exist in three different stages while in the atmosphere. Certain temperatures depict what stage water will exist in. The temperatures regulate the speed of the molecules that determine the state. As a solid, the molecules are locked into a position with no free movement. In a liquid state, the molecules do move freely but still are attached to each other making it capable to take the many forms of its holder. The attraction of the molecules in the liquid form is due to the attractive electrical forces. The speed of the molecules in the gas form is fast enough to nullify the attractive forces and the molecules simply bounce off each other. The image above will help to visualize this process.