Home (Supersaturation)
Home  
 
 
Home » Meteorology » Supersaturation


 

Supersaturation

Meteorology SuperrefractionSurface

supersaturation"1. In meteorology, the condition existing in a given portion of the atmosphere (or other space) when the relative humidity is greater than 100%, that is, ...

 


Supersaturation The condition which occurs in the atmosphere when the relative humidity is greater than 100%.

Assuming absolutely clean air, if water droplets have a high curvature, which is the case when they are smaller, they require relative humidities in excess of 100% (known as supersaturation) to be at an equilibrium vapor pressure.

For condensation to occur at a low degree of supersaturation, there must be an abundance of cloud condensation nuclei for water clouds, or ice nuclei for ice-crystal clouds, at temperatures substantially above -40°C.

See also: Water, Saturation, Air, Cloud, Atmosphere

Meteorology SuperrefractionSurface

 
 rssRSS