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Humidity

II. Short answer questions.

1. What determines the amount of water vapour in the air?


Ans: The amount of water vapour in the air can be determined by the temperature. It also
depends on other factors like-
(i) Supply of heat: With the increase in the supply of it, the rate of evaporation also
increases.
(ii) Winds: Strong winds promote evaporation.
(iii) Dry air: Dry air promotes greater humidity as dry air keeps the capability to hold a
large amount of water vapour.

2. How is relative humidity determined?


Ans: Relative humidity can be defined as the ratio between the absolute humidity. Of a
particular volume of water to the maximum amount of water vapour it can hold at that
particular temperature. It is mainly determined by the formula.
Actual amount
Relative humidity (RH)=-------------------------------- X 100 .
Water holding capacity.
A hygrometer is used to measure relative humidity.

3. Name 4 chief forms of condensation.


Ans: Four chief forms of condensation can mainly be termed as-
(i) Clouds.
(ii) Dew
(iii) Frost
(iv) Fog and mist.

4. Mention the different forms of precipitation.


Ans: Four chief forms of precipitation are-
(i) Rain
(ii) Snow
(iii) Hail

5. Give one difference between fog and mist


Ans:

FOG MIST
1 Fog is a thick cloud like mass or layer of tiny 1 Mist is a cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in
water droplets near the surface of art reducing the atmosphere limiting the visibility.
visibility.
2 Reduces visibility to less than one kilometer. 2 Usually has a visibility of above 1 kilometer
3 Much denser 3 Less denser
4 Not dissipate quickly. 4 Dissipate quickly.

6. What do you mean by condensation nuclei?


Ans: The impurity is present in the air round which the water droplets condense around is
known as condensation nuclei. They are even termed as minuscule particles. They are dust,
salt, smoke etc.

7. State three types of rainfall.


Ans: Three types of rainfall are as follows-
(i) Relief rainfall/ orographic rainfall.
(ii) Convectional rainfall.
(iii) Cyclonic or fontal rainfall.

8. why is orographic rainfall also called relief rainfall?


Ans: When warm moist air rises over mountains from the Atlantic Ocean, orographic
rainfall occurs. As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds that
carry rain. It descends and warms until it reaches the mountains. That is why it is
referred to as relief rainfall.

III. Explain the following terms:

(A) Precipitation.

The process by which the water droplets get Condensed in the in higher altitudes to form clouds
and ultimately after attaining the saturation point and colliding with the dust particles in the air It
causes precipitation in the form of rain, snow, hail, drizzle and silt. It can also occur when tiny
water droplets conjoin to form huge mass of clouds, and ultimately falls down as It no more can
hold heavy mass.

(B) Evaporation.

The process by which water vapour enters into the atmosphere through the process of heating is
known as evaporation. Evaporation can only occur in case of high temperature. It takes nearly
600 calories of heat to convert one gram of liquid water into vapor state. It is the primary process
through which liquid water gets converted into gasses which ultimately leads to formation of
clouds to precipitation.

(C) Condensation

The process in which gaseous water droplets gets converted into water vapor on account of cold
temperature is known as condensation. It is the reverse process of evaporation. It occurs when
water vapor is added to saturated air or when the temperature falls below the temperature at
which air becomes saturated.

(D) Humidity.

Humidity can be termed as the gaseous water vapor which is added to the air due to the perior
process of evaporation. It adds to the moistness of the air. Humidity is directly proportional to
heat.
IV. Structured type questions

1.(a) What is humidity? How is humidity measured?

Ans: 1st part- iii.(d)

Humidity is measured using the instrument hydrometer.

(b) Distinguish between absolute humidity and relative humidity.

Ans:

Absolute humidity. Relative humidity.


1 It is the measure of the actual amount of 1 It measures the water weapon in the air, but
water vapor present in the air, irrespective of relative to the maximum amount of water vapor
the temperature. it can hold at that particular temperature.

2 The higher amount of water weapon in the 2 It may be that air with same absolute humidity
air, the higher is the absolute humidity. have different relative humidity depend due to
varying temperature.
3 Absolute humidity is not taken account for 3 Relative humidity is an essential characteristics
weather calculations. of weather forecasts, which is readily taken into
consideration.

(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following.

(i) The total volume of water in the oceans and seas remain constant.

Ans: This is because all the water that evaporates from the earth’s water bodies is eventually
returned to it directly by the process of condensation and precipitation, and indirectly by the
streams and overflows from land surfaces.

(ii) In Equatorial regions the sky often remains overcast with clouds.

Ans: In Equatorial regions the sky often remains overcast with clouds due to excessive heat. The
high temperature leads to the rapid heating of air. Such heated air rises in convectional currents, leading to
development of clouds at about 10 km height.

(iii)Human comfort depends on humidity.

Ans: Human efficiency is best at 40% relative humidity, more or less humidity creates uneasiness of
humidity and dryness.
(d) Draw a well-leveled diagram showing orography rainfall.

Fig. Orographic Rainfall

2. (a) What is condensation? Explained briefly the process of condensation?

Ans: Q iii (c)

(b) Explain the atmospheric conditions that favour condensation.

Ans: The factors that favour condensation are as follows-

(i) High amount of water vapour: Higher the water vapor content higher the precipitation
chance.
(ii) Temperature range: When the temperature drops down below the temperature of the
dew point, condensation occurs.
(iii) Minuscule particles or Condensation nuclei: These particles act as the nuclear around
which the water vapor surrounds and rises up to the sky.

(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following.

(i) Condensation is the reverse process of evaporation.

Ans: Condensation is the reverse process of evaporation because in the process of condensation, the
water vapor is converted into water droplets on account of low temperature this mainly occurs to the
water droplets on high altitude. On the other hand, the evaporation occurs when the liquid water is
subjected to higher temperature in which it gets converted to gasses form and returns back into
water vapour.

(ii) Coasts perceive more rainfall than the interior of the continents.

Ans: Coastal regions generally receive more rainfall than the interior of continents due to the following
reasons:

Higher Humidity: The humidity in the clouds is high when they are at the coast. This is because there is
more evaporation from the sea, leading to more water being collected in the air.
Rainfall Pattern: By the time humid clouds reach the interior of the continents, they have already lost a
significant amount of their moisture. This results in less rainfall in the interior regions compared to the
coasts

(d) Draw well level diagram of conventional rainfall.

Fig. Diagram of conventional rainfall.

3. (a). How is dew formed? What is the difference between fog and mist?

Ans: When water vapor gets condensed on account of cooling of air below dew point on the surface,
tiny droplets of water called dew or form.

Priviously Written.

(b). Describe briefly the orographic and conventional rainfall.

Ans: Orographic rainfall is also known as relief rainfall. It occurs from the cooling of warm, moist air,
which ascends above the mountain barrier, lying in the direction of the prevailing winds. On
descending the leeward slope decrease in altitude increases both pressure and the temperature,
leading the air to get compressed and warm. Thus, less rainfall occurs in the leeward side.

For Example: Monsoon winds in western ghats

There is conventional rainfall in the Equatorial Regions. The high temperature leads to the rapid
heating of air. Such heated air rises in the conventional currents, leading to evelopment of clouds at
about 10 kilometre height causes condensation of the clouds, resulting in very high rainfall. And thus
four O clock shower occurs every four O clock, at noon It receives the annual rain of 200 centimetre.

(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the following

(i) Rain shadow areas are generally dry

Ans: Rain Shadow area is the region which is a leeward side, and is sheltered from prevailing rain
winds. The sudden ascent of warm moisture on the inward side causes cooling of air, leading to
condensation on the windward side. While descending the leeward slide, the altitude decreases
Consequently, the relative humidity drops and thus no precipitation occurs in rain shadow areas, and
it remains generally dry.

(ii) Frontal rain is common in mid latitudes

Ans: Frontal rain is common in mid-latitudes due to the convergence of two different air masses with
different temperatures and other physical properties. This typically involves the meeting of the sub-
tropical and polar air masses When warm and cold air masses confront each other, the warmer air
generally climbs above the colder air. After rising higher altitude and condensing, it later causes
precipitation. Such precipitation is called cyclonic rainfall.

(iii)Conventional rainfall is called 4:00 o’clock rainfall?

Ans: Previously written

(d) Define precipitation. Explained briefly the three forms of precipitation?

Ans: Previously Written

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