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Difficulty: MediumWater Cycle and Oceanography

Under sub-freezing conditions in the upper atmosphere, water vapor in an air mass transforms directly into solid ice crystals without passing through a liquid state. Which phase change in the water cycle does this process represent?

  1. A
    Freezing
  2. B
    Evaporation
  3. DepositionAnswer
  4. D
    Melting

Answer

Deposition is the process where gaseous water vapor changes directly into solid ice crystals without first becoming a liquid.
Deposition is the phase transition in which water vapor (gas) converts directly into ice crystals (solid) without intermediate condensation into liquid water. This occurs in the atmosphere when air temperatures are well below freezing, forming cirrus clouds and frost.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial and final states of matter described in the scenario.
The initial state is water vapor (gas) and the final state is ice crystals (solid).
Determining the starting and ending phases isolates the specific thermodynamic pathway in the hydrologic cycle.
2
Recognize the absence of an intermediate liquid phase.
The phase transition bypasses the liquid state entirely in sub-freezing temperatures.
Direct gas-to-solid phase transitions have specific scientific nomenclature distinct from liquid-phase transitions.
3
Match the gas-to-solid transition to its correct scientific term.
The direct transition of water vapor into solid ice is termed deposition.
Deposition (also known as desublimation) releases latent heat and forms cirrus ice crystals and frost.

Key Concept

Phase changes of water in the atmosphere (gas to solid deposition)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Water Cycle and Oceanography

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