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In order for an entire lake to evaporate, it needs to absorb energy. Most of this energy comes from the sun. The amount of energy required to evaporate all the water in a lake is equal to the standard heat of vaporization for water, 40.8 kJ/mol multiplied by the molar quantity of water in the lake plus the temperature difference between the lake and boiling water multiplied by the specific heat of water and the molar quantity of water in the lake. The number would be staggeringly huge even for a small swimming pool. The rate at which the sun transfers energy to the water is pretty slow compared to the amount of energy required to evaporate the whole lake. That is why it does not happen all at once.

2006-10-16 11:47:34 · answer #1 · answered by dogsaysmoo 3 · 0 0

Evaporation doesn't work that way. It only takes place at the surface of the water and only a certain number of molecules will be moving in the right direction with enough kinetic energy to escape the surface tension and become airborne. Evaporation happens more quickly at higher temperatures, but it also has a cooling effect on the water that is left behind. Other factors will limit how much water can evaporate. If the air becomes saturated with water vapor, as much water will condense back into the lake as will evaporate out of it. If the air temperature cools, it's capacity to hold water will be reduced and more water will be returned to the lake in the form of rain or other precipitation. Are there circumstances where a lake will evaporate entirely? Certainly, if the temperature is warm enough and the air is dry enough, but this still will happen over time, not in an instant. The linked Wikipedia article describes the science of evaporation in more detail.

2006-10-16 18:45:44 · answer #2 · answered by just♪wondering 7 · 0 0

There is too much water for the amount of heat the sun is sending to evaporate the water fast.

2006-10-16 18:51:33 · answer #3 · answered by Nicholais S 6 · 0 0

Each c.c. that evaporates will absorber 60 cal. from the top of the water. this cools the water and reduces the evaporation.

2006-10-16 19:17:48 · answer #4 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0 0

because it has too much water to all evaporate at once

2006-10-16 18:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Because then my husband would be at home,and not on the lake fishing. Better on the lake than at home!

2006-10-16 18:37:37 · answer #6 · answered by jaa9636 2 · 0 0

as anyone whose ever gone swimming in the swamp can tell you that water on the top and water on the bottom are different temperatures. the bottom is usually much cooler.

2006-10-16 18:31:41 · answer #7 · answered by kajunprincezz 3 · 0 0

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