geg 120

PHYSICAL GEOOGRAPHY GEG 120 HOMEWORK 03

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SECTION I: NAME THE FORCE /PHENOMENON / MECHANISM (5 points)

 The two opposing forces determining the vertical position of a parcel of air: _________________________ and

_____________________________

 Mechanism of air mass uplift that is triggered due to local surface heating: ______________________________

 Direct conversion of water vapor to ice: ___________________________________

 The rate of cooling of a saturated ascending air mass: _______________________________________

SECTION II: TRUE OR FALSE (6 points)

 Air is saturated when the dew-point temperature and the air temperature coincide: ___________

 Relative humidity is not affected by changes in temperature: _________

 Hurricanes originate where warm and cold air masses meet / converge: ______________

 Air masses retain their temperature /moisture characteristics even far from their source regions: ___________

 Of all the surface freshwater on Earth, over 99% is in ice and glaciers: __________

 At wilting point, no water remains in the soil: _________

SECTION III: CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER CHOICE (8 points)

 As water cools from room temperature to 4°C (39°F), it _____________ (contracts / expands) and its density

_______________ (increases / decreases).

 Below a temperature of 4°C (39°F), water ________ _________ (contracts / expands) and its density

__________________ (increases / decreases).

 When water evaporates, it _____________ (absorbs / releases) heat energy and ____________ (cools / heats)

the surrounding air.

 When water condenses, it _____________ (absorbs / releases) heat energy and ____________ (cools / heats)

the surrounding air.

SECTION IV: QUANTITATIVE (6 points)

1) The maximum specific humidity of air at 20°C (68°F) is 15g. If a kilogram of air at 20°C (68°F) has a specific

humidity of 7.5 g/kg, what is its relative humidity? Show your work

2) If an air parcel at 2000 m with an initial temperature of 30°C and a dew point of 15°C begins to rise over a

mountain, at what altitude will condensation begin or cloud form? Show your work

3) Assume a warm air parcel, at sea level, has a temperature of 21°C and begins to rise upward. Assume it

becomes saturated at 1000 m altitude, and continues to rise to 2000 m altitude. What would the

approximate temperature of the parcel be at an elevation of 2000 m? Show your work

Student Name:

__________________