2007-10-01 11:28:27 · 6 answers · asked by liltchaser 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
If you got this question from school, please have the teacher or instructor go to the following web site.
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadClouds.html
For some reason, this weather question and the explanation given in the answer will likely be not correct. However, this idea that the "air can hold" something better at certain temperatures continues to be taught at schools and even many colleges today. The answer should be based mainly on the difference in the rate of condensation verses the rate of evaporation at different temperature levels.
See also the link:
http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/people/babin/vapor/index.html
2007-10-01 16:28:24 · answer #1 · answered by UALog 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Warm air can hold more moisture, likewise, it becomes thinner as well. Air that is just 40 degrees can hold quite a bit of water vapor, but you increase the temperature to80 or even 120 the moisture content quadruples, at double the temperature, and octuples at triple the temperature. So if a storm blows i with the Mercury reading 120, and the temperature drops by 60 degrees, that's lot of moisture that's going to be wrung out of the air in the form of a prolific downpour that will cause massive flooding of streams, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, as well as street flooding. That kind of rainfall may even break a world record for the most rain falling in just minutes. (Holt, MO holds that record of 12 inches of rain in 44 minutes. that's one inch every 3:45!)
2007-10-01 11:49:33 · answer #2 · answered by weatherbuff900 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes: that is why moisture content in the atmosphere usually decreases with height owing to the fall in temperature.The high clouds like cirrus,cirrocumulus and cirrostratus do not produce any precipitation due to less moisture content in the clouds.
2007-10-01 23:32:01 · answer #3 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Warm air is CAPABLE of holding more moisture than colder air.
2007-10-01 11:40:13 · answer #4 · answered by cyswxman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, As air heats up the molecules are spaced further apart, as the gas (air) expands.
This allows more space for water vapor.
Cold air molecules are closer together, leaving less space for water molecules.
2007-10-01 12:19:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
cold air can hold less water vapor than warm air
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/synoptic/clouds.htm
2007-10-01 12:20:46 · answer #6 · answered by NWS Storm Spotter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋