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Condensation of water in nature Water vapor from air which naturally condenses on cold surfaces into liquid water is called dew. Water vapour will only condense onto another surface when that surface is cooler than the temperature of the water vapor, or when the water vapor equilibrium in air, i. e. saturation humidity, has been exceeded. When water vapor condenses onto a surface, a net warming occurs on that surface. The water molecule brings a parcel of heat with it. In turn, the temperature of the atmosphere drops very slightly. In the atmosphere, condensation of water vapour is what produces clouds. The dew point of an air parcel is the temperature to which it must cool before condensation in the air begins to form. Also, a net condensation of water vapor occurs on surfaces when the temperature of the surface is at or below the dew point temperature of the atmosphere. Deposition is a type of condensation. Frost and snow are examples of deposition (or sublimation). Deposition is the direct formation of ice from water vapor. Applications of Condensation Because condensation is a naturally occuring phenomenon, it can often be used to generate water in large quantities for human use. In fact, there are many structures that are made solely for the purpose of collecting water from condensation, such as fog fences, air wells, and dew ponds. Such systems can often be used to retain soil moisture in areas where active desertification is occuring. In fact, certain organizations use education about water condensers in efforts to effectively aid such areas.* Reference | ||||||||||
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