Cold Weather Convection: Does Warm Water Rise or Fall?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of warm water in cold weather, specifically whether it rises or falls. Participants explore concepts related to convection and the density of water at varying temperatures, with a focus on the implications of temperature changes on water behavior in outdoor environments.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that warm water falls in cold weather, questioning the relationship between temperature and water behavior.
  • Others argue that the question lacks clarity, as "weather" pertains to atmospheric conditions while water is a liquid, suggesting a need for context.
  • It is noted that above 4°C, water becomes denser as it cools, leading to the conclusion that warmer water rises under these conditions.
  • Conversely, below 4°C, water is said to become less dense as it cools, which would mean that warm water falls.
  • A participant suggests that the question may pertain to outdoor water bodies, such as lakes, where temperature gradients could exist.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the interpretation of the question and the behavior of water at different temperatures.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential limitations in understanding due to the ambiguity of the term "weather" and its application to water behavior. There is also an assumption that the context involves outdoor water bodies, which may not be universally accepted.

caprija
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Does warm water rise or fall in cold weather?

I think it falls

Does it have to do with convection??
 
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The question makes no sense. "Weather" implies the atmosphere and water is a liquid, so water falls in the atmosphere regardless of if it is warm or cold. Can you provide some context to the question?
 
caprija said:
Does warm water rise or fall in cold weather?

I think it falls

Does it have to do with convection??

Above 4°C, water gets denser as it cools. This means that warmer water rises under these conditions. Below 4°C, water becomes actually becomes less dense as it cools. Under those conditions warm water will fall as you guessed.
 
LeonhardEuler said:
Above 4°C, water gets denser as it cools. This means that warmer water rises under these conditions. Below 4°C, water becomes actually becomes less dense as it cools. Under those conditions warm water will fall as you guessed.
Are you reading "weather" as 'water'?
 
Gokul43201 said:
Are you reading "weather" as 'water'?

The situation I assumed he was talking about was you have some water outdoors like a lake or something, and the water is at a temperature close to the air, but it isn't completely uniform. It's the only way it makes sense. I know they sometimes give ocean temperatures in weather reports, so maybe the question is actually legitimate.
 

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