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Difficulty: MediumWater Cycle and Oceanography

As warm, moist air ascends into the atmosphere, it cools to its dew point and forms clouds. Which statement correctly describes the phase change and heat exchange taking place during this cloud formation process?

  1. Water vapor condenses into liquid droplets, releasing latent heat into the surrounding air.Answer
  2. B
    Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, absorbing latent heat from the surrounding air.
  3. C
    Water vapor condenses into liquid droplets, absorbing latent heat from the surrounding air.
  4. D
    Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, releasing latent heat into the surrounding air.

Answer

Water vapor condenses into liquid droplets, releasing latent heat into the surrounding air.
When rising air cools to its dew point, water vapor undergoes condensation to form liquid cloud droplets. Because gas molecules have higher kinetic energy than liquid molecules, this transition releases stored latent heat of condensation into the surrounding atmosphere, which helps warm the surrounding air parcel and maintain buoyancy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the physical state transition occurring during cloud droplet development.
Gaseous water vapor cools below its dew point and transforms into liquid water droplets, which is the process of condensation.
Clouds consist of microscopic liquid water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
2
Determine the thermodynamic energy exchange associated with condensation.
Molecules transition to a lower energy state, which releases latent heat of condensation into the surrounding atmosphere.
Phase changes from higher energy states (gas) to lower energy states (liquid) are exothermic.

Key Concept

Atmospheric condensation and latent heat release in the hydrologic cycle
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Water Cycle and Oceanography

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