Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics
Phase transitions of atmospheric water play a ubiquitous role in the Earth's climate system, but their direct impact on atmospheric dynamics has escaped wide attention. Here we examine and advance a theory as to how condensation influences atmospheric pressure through the mass removal of wa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/1039/2013/acp-13-1039-2013.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818520749186482176 |
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| author | A. M. Makarieva V. G. Gorshkov D. Sheil A. D. Nobre B.-L. Li |
| author_facet | A. M. Makarieva V. G. Gorshkov D. Sheil A. D. Nobre B.-L. Li |
| author_sort | A. M. Makarieva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phase transitions of atmospheric water play a ubiquitous role in the Earth's climate system, but their direct impact on atmospheric dynamics has escaped wide attention. Here we examine and advance a theory as to how condensation influences atmospheric pressure through the mass removal of water from the gas phase with a simultaneous account of the latent heat release. Building from fundamental physical principles we show that condensation is associated with a decline in air pressure in the lower atmosphere. This decline occurs up to a certain height, which ranges from 3 to 4 km for surface temperatures from 10 to 30 °C. We then estimate the horizontal pressure differences associated with water vapor condensation and find that these are comparable in magnitude with the pressure differences driving observed circulation patterns. The water vapor delivered to the atmosphere via evaporation represents a store of potential energy available to accelerate air and thus drive winds. Our estimates suggest that the global mean power at which this potential energy is released by condensation is around one per cent of the global solar power – this is similar to the known stationary dissipative power of general atmospheric circulation. We conclude that condensation and evaporation merit attention as major, if previously overlooked, factors in driving atmospheric dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:41:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da2dba3c148b435bb968deb79006ee31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-da2dba3c148b435bb968deb79006ee312022-12-22T01:25:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242013-01-011321039105610.5194/acp-13-1039-2013Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamicsA. M. MakarievaV. G. GorshkovD. SheilA. D. NobreB.-L. LiPhase transitions of atmospheric water play a ubiquitous role in the Earth's climate system, but their direct impact on atmospheric dynamics has escaped wide attention. Here we examine and advance a theory as to how condensation influences atmospheric pressure through the mass removal of water from the gas phase with a simultaneous account of the latent heat release. Building from fundamental physical principles we show that condensation is associated with a decline in air pressure in the lower atmosphere. This decline occurs up to a certain height, which ranges from 3 to 4 km for surface temperatures from 10 to 30 °C. We then estimate the horizontal pressure differences associated with water vapor condensation and find that these are comparable in magnitude with the pressure differences driving observed circulation patterns. The water vapor delivered to the atmosphere via evaporation represents a store of potential energy available to accelerate air and thus drive winds. Our estimates suggest that the global mean power at which this potential energy is released by condensation is around one per cent of the global solar power – this is similar to the known stationary dissipative power of general atmospheric circulation. We conclude that condensation and evaporation merit attention as major, if previously overlooked, factors in driving atmospheric dynamics.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/1039/2013/acp-13-1039-2013.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. M. Makarieva V. G. Gorshkov D. Sheil A. D. Nobre B.-L. Li Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| title_full | Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| title_short | Where do winds come from? A new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| title_sort | where do winds come from a new theory on how water vapor condensation influences atmospheric pressure and dynamics |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/1039/2013/acp-13-1039-2013.pdf |
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