ATS 350 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Describe how molecular bonds regulate transitions of water vapor between solid, liquid, and
gas forms - ANS It takes energy to break bonds and making bonds releases energy. Water is
also unique because of its ability to H-bond
What does the air being saturated mean? - ANS The maximum amount of water vapor in the
air at equilibrium between evaporation and condensation -- i.e. the max amount of water vapor
that can exist in an air parcel at that temp
How does saturation vapor pressure depend upon temperature? - ANS As temperature
increases, saturation vapor pressure increases -- hotter air can hold more water.
How does saturation vapor pressure over liquid water and ice differ? - ANS The saturation
vapor pressure is higher over liquid than over ice
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - Saturation vapor pressure -
ANS max amount of water vapor that can exist in the air at equilibrium. Doesn't vary with
atmospheric water vapor content, but increases with air temp
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - vapor pressure - ANS the
pressure exerted by water vapor molecules in the air. Increases with more water vapor content,
increases with temp (PV=nRT)
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, Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - relative humidity -
ANS describes how far the air is from being saturated (actual vapor content / saturation
vapor pressure). Increasing the atmospheric water vapor content increases relative humidity (if
temp is held constant). Increasing the temperature increases saturation vapor pressure,
decreasing RH.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - dew point temperature -
ANS the temperature at which the atmosphere would reach saturation without changing the
water vapor content. If you increase the atmospheric water vapor content, you increase
dewpoint. If you increase air temperature, doesn't do anything.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - wet bulb temperature -
ANS the minimum temperature that can be reached by evaporating water into air -- the
difference between the wet bulb and dry bulb temperature can calculate RH and dewpoint.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - mixing ratio - ANS mass of
water vapor in an air parcel relative to mass of dry air in the parcel.
How do these different measures of humidity change when air parcels rise or fall? -
ANS When air parcels rise, the particles expand and become cooler and the dewpoint
temperature can be reached. And vice versa
Explain what happens to these measures of humidity when the air is saturated. - ANS RH is
100%, the air is at the dewpoint temp
Why is air typically more humid on the Gulf of Mexico Coast than in the Western U.S.? -
ANS The ocean is warm in the Gulf of Mexico but cool on the west coast. The air is saturated
over the cold water and moves over warm land that has a higher saturation pressure leading to
lower RH.
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100% CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Describe how molecular bonds regulate transitions of water vapor between solid, liquid, and
gas forms - ANS It takes energy to break bonds and making bonds releases energy. Water is
also unique because of its ability to H-bond
What does the air being saturated mean? - ANS The maximum amount of water vapor in the
air at equilibrium between evaporation and condensation -- i.e. the max amount of water vapor
that can exist in an air parcel at that temp
How does saturation vapor pressure depend upon temperature? - ANS As temperature
increases, saturation vapor pressure increases -- hotter air can hold more water.
How does saturation vapor pressure over liquid water and ice differ? - ANS The saturation
vapor pressure is higher over liquid than over ice
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - Saturation vapor pressure -
ANS max amount of water vapor that can exist in the air at equilibrium. Doesn't vary with
atmospheric water vapor content, but increases with air temp
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - vapor pressure - ANS the
pressure exerted by water vapor molecules in the air. Increases with more water vapor content,
increases with temp (PV=nRT)
1 | Page @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - relative humidity -
ANS describes how far the air is from being saturated (actual vapor content / saturation
vapor pressure). Increasing the atmospheric water vapor content increases relative humidity (if
temp is held constant). Increasing the temperature increases saturation vapor pressure,
decreasing RH.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - dew point temperature -
ANS the temperature at which the atmosphere would reach saturation without changing the
water vapor content. If you increase the atmospheric water vapor content, you increase
dewpoint. If you increase air temperature, doesn't do anything.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - wet bulb temperature -
ANS the minimum temperature that can be reached by evaporating water into air -- the
difference between the wet bulb and dry bulb temperature can calculate RH and dewpoint.
Understand the following measures of humidity and how they change with atmospheric water
vapor content and air temperature (the dry bulb temperature): - mixing ratio - ANS mass of
water vapor in an air parcel relative to mass of dry air in the parcel.
How do these different measures of humidity change when air parcels rise or fall? -
ANS When air parcels rise, the particles expand and become cooler and the dewpoint
temperature can be reached. And vice versa
Explain what happens to these measures of humidity when the air is saturated. - ANS RH is
100%, the air is at the dewpoint temp
Why is air typically more humid on the Gulf of Mexico Coast than in the Western U.S.? -
ANS The ocean is warm in the Gulf of Mexico but cool on the west coast. The air is saturated
over the cold water and moves over warm land that has a higher saturation pressure leading to
lower RH.
2 | Page @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
