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Anna-Banana
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At any given moment do scientists have an idea of how much water is in the atmosphere? Can we compare it to how much fresh water is stored on Earth as a liquid?
Thanks to weather satellites, yes, they do. You've seen weather satellite images that show the Earth as ocean and land, partly covered by clouds. Those are visible images of the Earth as seen from space. Looking at the Earth in infrared gives a very different picture. Several wavelengths are particularly sensitive to water vapor. For example, here's a 6.7 micron channel image:Anna-Banana said:At any given moment do scientists have an idea of how much water is in the atmosphere?
The amount of water in the Earth's atmosphere varies, but on average, it is estimated to be around 0.001% of the total mass of the atmosphere. This may seem like a small amount, but it still equates to around 12,900 cubic kilometers of water.
Water enters the atmosphere through a process called evaporation, where liquid water on the Earth's surface is heated by the sun and turns into water vapor, which rises into the atmosphere. It can also enter through transpiration, where plants release water vapor through their leaves.
Water plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. It helps to distribute heat from the equator to the poles through the water cycle, and it also absorbs and releases heat, which helps to moderate temperature changes in the atmosphere.
Water can exist in the atmosphere in three different forms: water vapor, liquid water droplets, and ice crystals. The amount of water in each form depends on factors such as temperature, pressure, and humidity.
Yes, the amount of water in the atmosphere is constantly changing due to various factors such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, can also affect the amount of water in the atmosphere by altering the Earth's climate and water cycle.