Questions on Humidity (Lecture 3.1)

1. Consider the following facts about two cities in summertime.

(i) At the surface in city A the vapor pressure e_A is greater than that at the surface in city B, e_B. This is written e_A > e_B.

(ii) The Relative Humidity in city A is less than that in city B, or (RH)_A < (RH)_B.

2. One of these cities is Seattle and one is Topeka, KA. Which is which?

3. An air parcel is rising adiabatically in the atmosphere. It contains some water vapor. Which of these quantities (1) increase (2) decrease (3) don't change?

(a) vapor mixing ratio

(b) vapor pressure e

(c) vapor density

(d) saturation vapor pressure e*

4. From your experience watching clouds, do you think the RH (a) increases (b) decreases (c) remains constant as the parcel rises?

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