Potential energy of atmospheric water vapor and the air motions induced by water vapor condensation on different spatial scales

2010/03/29 by Anastassia M. Makarieva, Makarieva, Anastassia M., Victor G. Gorshkov +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech) #cond-mat.stat-mech #physics.ao-ph #physics.gen-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1003.5466

37 pages, 6 figures

arxiv created 2010/03/29 · arxiv updated 2015/03/13

Abstract

Basic physical principles are considered that are responsible for the origin of dynamic air flow upon condensation of water vapor, the partial pressure of which represents a store of potential energy in the atmosphere of Earth. Quantitative characteristics of such flow are presented for several spatial scales. It is shown that maximum condensation-induced velocities reach 160 m/s and are realized in compact circulation patterns like tornadoes.

Related

• Examining the physical principles behind the motion of moist air: Which expressions are sound?
• One Stone, Two Birds: Using Vapor Kinetic Energy to Detect and Understand Atmospheric Rivers
• Non-conservation and conservation for different formulations of moist potential vorticity
• On the relative humidity of the atmosphere
• Reassessing thermodynamic and dynamic constraints on global wind power