308 Temperature, Moisture, and Heat Transfer

Define heat

Energy in the process of being transferred from on object to another because of a temperature differential

What is albedo

Albedo is the measure of how reflective a substance is

What does a high albedo mean?

The substance is very reflective and so does not absorb much heat

What does a low albedo mean?

The substance is not reflective and so absorbs lots of heat

What affects albedo other than the type of substance?

The angle of the sun

Does ice have a high or low albedo?

A high albedo

Does water have a high or low albedo?

Low albedo

Define temperature

The measure of warmth or coldness of an object

What does saturated air mean

It is holding the maximum amount of water vapor it is able to at a given temperature

What is absolute humidity?

The actual amount of water present in a parcel of air measured in g/m3

What is relative hummidty?

The amount of water vapor in a parcel of air relative to the amount of water it could hold

Define dew point

The temperature to which air would have to be cooled for saturation to occur

What is the most significant factor affecting how much water air can hold?

Temperature

What are the conditions required for condensation to occur?

Condensation nuclei, saturated air, cooling of the air

If air is heated and no water is added or removed, what happens to relative humidity?

It decreases

Name the four processes for heat transfer

radiation, conduction, convection, advection

Define radiation

Heat energy transfer in the form of electromagnetic waves

Define conduction

Heat energy transfer by direct contact of two bodies at different temperatures

Define convection

Heat transfer that occurs when air moves vertically

Define advection

The heat transfer that occurs when air moves horizontally

What is advection cooling?

Warm air moves over a cool surface and so cools down

What is advection heating?

Cold air moves over a warm surface and so warms up

How does radiation heating work?

Short wave radiation from the sun is absorbed by the earth then re emitted into the atmosphere as long wave radiation

How does conduction work?

Heat is transferred between molecules through collisions

What are the two processes by which the atmosphere is cooled?

Radiation, advection