Climate can be thought of as the framework in which weather occurs: it is the average of weather conditions over a given period of time. A warming trend in a region's climate indicates that, on average, daily temperatures are warmer than normal. There can still be very cool days; they are simply balanced out by hotter warm days or a higher frequency of warm days.
As the climate warms, increased temperatures affects the water cycle, which in turn influences weather patterns. Relying on your knowledge of the water cycle, complete the following table. Think of the answer on your own and then click on your choice to see the answer highlighted in green.
| Rate of Evaporation | Amount of Moisture in the Air | |
|---|---|---|
| What will happen as temperature increases? |
Increases
Increases
As temperature increases, more water molecules gain the necessary energy to enter the gas phase. |
Increases
Increases
More water molecules enter the atmosphere as temperature increases. Cooler temperatures are required for the water vapour molecules to condense into water droplets. Because temperatures are warmer, less water vapour condenses and precipitates out, leaving more water vapour in the atmosphere than before. |
|
Decreases
Decreases
|
Decreases
Decreases
|
Question: For hurricanes to form, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) must be above 27°C. After this point, the storms gain their energy from the condensation of moist air. How might an increased SST affect the amount of air moisture available to provide energy for hurricanes?