7.2.1: Evaporation

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 16045

Michael E. Ritter
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point via The Physical Environment

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

Evaporation is the phase change of a liquid to a gas. There are three very important requirements for evaporation to take place, 1) available energy, 2) available water, and 3) a vertical moisture gradient. Approximately 600 calories of heat must be added to a gram of water for it to evaporate into the air. This energy is called "the latent heat of vaporization". Latent heat is used to break the hydrogen bonds that bind water molecules together. In doing so, the energy is "locked up" in the water molecules. The energy remains "latent" in the molecules until they combine during the condensation process to form a liquid. When this happens latent energy is released into the surrounding environment as sensible heat. Sensible heat warms the surrounding air, and thus is an important source of energy to heat the atmosphere.

Even if you have all the energy required for evaporation it will not occur unless there is water present. Desert regions are noted for their lack of precipitation. One reason is that they have little available water to evaporate to later condense and form precipitation. Eighty-eight percent of the water that is evaporated into the air comes from oceans that lie between 60^o north and south latitude. Most of the evaporation occurs in the tropical and subtropical oceans where the highest amounts of net radiation occur.

The third requirement for evaporation is the presence of a vertical moisture gradient. That is, there is a difference in moisture content with increasing height above the surface. All this means is that the humidity is high at the evaporating surface (liquid water), and the air above has a lower humidity. Evaporation will be the predominate phase change until the air is saturated with moisture. Though not required, wind aids in the evaporation process. Wind transfers water molecules away from the evaporating surface and hence maintains a vertical moisture gradient.