Why does condensation heat the surrounding air

Even though clouds are absent in a crystal clear blue sky, water is still present in the form of water vapor and droplets which are too small to be seen.

Depending on weather conditions, water molecules will combine with tiny particles of dust, salt, and smoke in the air to form cloud droplets, which combine and grow and develop into clouds, a form of water we can see.

Cloud droplets can vary greatly in size, from 10 microns millionths of a meter to 1 millimeter mm , and even as large as 5 mm. This process occurs higher in the sky where the air is cooler and more condensation occurs relative to evaporation. As water droplets combine also known as coalescence with each other, and grow in size, clouds not only develop, but precipitation may also occur.

Precipitation is essentially water in its liquid or solid form falling from the base of a cloud. This seems to happen too often during picnics or when large groups of people gather at swimming pools.

This picture shows cumulonimbus clouds over Africa photographed from the International Space Station. Tap the picture to get an in-depth explanation. The clouds formed by condensation are an intricate and critical component of Earth's environment.

Clouds regulate the flow of radiant energy into and out of Earth's climate system. They influence the Earth's climate by reflecting incoming solar radiation heat back to space and outgoing radiation terrestrial from the Earth's surface. Often at night, clouds act as a "blanket," keeping a portion of the day's heat next to the surface. Changing cloud patterns modify the Earth's energy balance, and, in turn, temperatures on the Earth's surface. As we said, clouds form in the atmosphere because air containing water vapor rises and cools.

The key to this process is that air near the Earth's surface is warmed by solar radiation. But, do you know why the atmosphere cools above the Earth's surface? Generally, air pressure, is the reason. The pressure weight , called barometric pressure, that results is a consequence of the density of the air above. At higher altitudes, there is less air above, and, thus, less air pressure pressing down. The barometric pressure is lower, and lower barometric pressure is associated with fewer molecules per unit volume.

Therefore, the air at higher altitudes is less dense. As the total heat content of a system is directly related to the amount of matter present, it is cooler at higher elevation This means cooler air. On California's Marin Headlands, facing away from the Golden Gate Bridge, the August heat hits the cool air from the Ocean, creating a very thick fog that tends to sit low on the ground.

Condensation also occurs at ground level, as this picture of a cloud bank in California shows. The difference between fog and clouds which form above the Earth's surface is that rising air is not required to form fog. Fog develops when air having a relatively high humidity comes in contact with a colder surface, often the Earth's surface, and cools to the dew point.

Additional cooling leads to condensation and the growth of low-level clouds. Fog that develops when warmer air moves over a colder surface is known as advective fog. Another form of fog, known as radiative fog, develops at night when surface temperatures cool. If the air is still, the fog layer does not readily mix with the air above it, which encourages the development of shallow ground fog.

You probably see condensation right at home every day. If you wear glasses and go from a cold, air-conditioned room to outside on a humid day, the lenses fog up as small water droplets coat the surface via condensation.

Water on Earth's surface will evaporate into the atmosphere as energy is absorbed by liquid water. Water molecules that exist in the liquid phase are free-flowing and in no particular fixed position.

Once energy is added to water by heat from the sun, the bonds between the water molecules gain kinetic energy or energy in motion. They then escape the surface of the liquid and become a gas water vapor , which then rises into the atmosphere. This process of water evaporating from the surface of the Earth happens continually and continually transports water vapor into the air.

The rate of evaporation depends on air temperature, wind speed, cloudiness. Evaporation is responsible for several weather phenomena, including humidity and clouds.

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. This dew point varies according to the amount of water in the atmosphere and air temperature known as relative humidity. In humid conditions, condensation occurs at higher temperatures. In cold conditions, condensation occurs despite relatively low humidity.

With regard to windows and doors, it is the difference in temperature between the environment, be it internal or external, and the glass, that causes condensation to form. The air surrounding us in our homes always contains water vapour, which is invisible. A typical example is the steam cloud from a kettle, which rapidly becomes invisible — it has in fact been absorbed into the atmosphere.

The warmer the air, the more water vapour it can hold — but there is a limit to the amount it can hold for a given temperature. When saturated air comes into contact with a surface that is at a lower temperature than itself, the air is chilled at the point of contact and sheds its surplus water vapour on that surface — initially in the form of a mist and, if excessive, eventually in the form of droplets of moisture.

The condensation definition is water changing from a gas to a liquid. Condensation makes it possible for clouds to form. Clouds contain liquid water droplets and solid ice crystals. The cooler temperature at high altitudes causes more water vapor to condense. Water vapor condenses on minute particles of debris in the air which then collide with other condensed droplets nearby.

Eventually the force of the collisions of these droplets of water causes precipitation to fall from the clouds to the ground and collecting in bodies of water. The process in which water vapor turns into a liquid is called condensation. The gaseous water molecules release energy into the cooler air around them and move closer together.

The spaces between the molecules decrease until they are close enough to change from a gas to a liquid. When the air is warmer than the ground, water vapor condenses on ground surfaces to form dew. The temperature when dew forms is called the dew point. A similar effect occurs on the outer surface of a cold beverage, when air temperature is higher than the water in the glass.