ATM OCN (Meteorology) 100 - Lecture 3

WATER AND THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

Lecture 3 - Fall 1997

Lecture #10 Scheduled for:

24 SEP 1997 (W)

Recommended Readings from Moran and Morgan (1997):

pages 125-126; 92-96.

Objectives:

• To identify and rank the relative sizes of the major features of the hydrological cycle to include its reservoirs and transfer processes.
• To describe the movement of water through the hydrological cycle.
• To summarize the phase change processes of water in the hydrological cycle
• To describe the meteorological and climatological importance of the hydrological cycle.
• To distinguish among the various phase change processes.

Outline:

A. INTRODUCTION

• Definition
• Historical Perspective of the Hydrologic Cycle

B. IMPORTANCE OF THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

• Meteorological Significance
• Contribution to the planetary energy budget
• Factor in weather systems
• Biological Significance

C. ASSESSING THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

• Total Water Budget of Planet Earth
• The Major Reservoirs of Water
• Recycling Processes between Reservoirs
• Measurement Techniques

D. WATER - A WONDER

• Background
• Molecular Structure of Water (H₂O)
• Chemical Properties of H₂O
• Physical Properties of H₂O

E. WATER VAPOR

• Humidity (Atmospheric moisture) Considerations
• Concept of Saturation
• Water Vapor Variables
• Climatology of Atmospheric Humidity (Water vapor)

Last revision 28 September 1997