10. WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE
The chapter discusses the presence and significance of water vapour in the atmosphere, detailing its forms, processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It explains the concepts of humidity, dew point, and the various types of precipitation while highlighting the world distribution of rainfall.
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What we have learnt
- Water is present in the atmosphere as vapour, liquid, and solid.
- Humidity is a measure of water vapour in the air, expressed as absolute or relative humidity.
- Evaporation and condensation are crucial processes in the water cycle, influencing weather patterns.
Key Concepts
- -- Absolute Humidity
- The actual amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere, expressed as grams per cubic meter.
- -- Relative Humidity
- The percentage of moisture present in the atmosphere compared to its full capacity at a given temperature.
- -- Dew Point
- The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and condensation begins to occur.
- -- Evaporation
- The process by which water is transformed from its liquid state to a gaseous state.
- -- Condensation
- The process where water vapour is transformed back into liquid water due to cooling.
- -- Precipitation
- The release of moisture from the atmosphere, which can occur in liquid (rain) or solid (snow) form.
- -- Types of Rainfall
- Rainfall can be classified into convectional, orographic, and cyclonic types based on its origin and formation processes.
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