What is latent heat and why is it such an important factor in the transfer of energy from the surface to the atmosphere?

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Latent heat is the energy required to change the phase of a substance (water). On a global average basis, the amount of energy transferred to the atmosphere as latent heat amounts to 24 units, which makes latent heat considerably more important as a mode of heat transfer than sensible heat (5 units).

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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A boxer punches a sheet of paper in midair and brings it from rest up to a speed of 40 m/s in 0.05 s. If the mass of the paper is 0.01 kg, the force of impact on the paper is about

A) 0.08 N. B) 0.8 N. C) 8.0 N. D) 80 N.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Scientists believe that some answers to proposed question will ultimately never be known

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

About 80 percent of the population lives within ________ mile(s) of Australia's coast

A) 1 B) 5 C) 12 D) 20

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Summertime wildfires in California are fanned by:

A) Hadley circulations. B) the Santa Ana winds. C) the westerlies. D) katabatic winds.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences