Answers to Questions
on ways to Express Humidity

1M. The measure we are using is mixing ratio: grams of water vapor per kilogram of dry air.

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2M. The relative humidity would be 50%.   10 grams water vapor/kg dry air compared to 20 grams water vapor/kg dry air is 10/20=50%

3M. Relative humidity would be 18/20=90%

3A1. The temperature of the rising air would be 18 degrees C, cooler than the still air; the lapse rate is greater.

4A.  If the temperature of the parcel of air decreases, the relative humidity increases.  This is a KEY point.  If you did not answer this correctly, you really should go back and review the explanation of relative humidity.

5A. absorbed

6A. released

7A. The temperature at 3000 meters will be approximately 7 degrees C.  The Saturated adiabatic lapse rate is given as 5 deg C/1000 meters, so if you go up 1000 meters, the air will cool off 5 degrees. 12-5=7.

8A.  Air which is subsiding will be increasing in temperature.  If it is increasing in temperature, the relative humidity will be decreasing,  If the relative humidity is decreasing, there will be no condensation taking place.  So the applicable rate is the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate.

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07/19/01 |

jthorn@mail.sdsu.edu