Water Vapor

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-030152",
  "term": "Water Vapor",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Water diffused as a gas in the atmosphere.\n\n2. Water that is present in the atmosphere as a gas. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas and plays an important role in the natural greenhouse effect. Clouds form when extra water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form ice, water droplets, and precipitation.\n\n3. The most abundant greenhouse gas, it is the water present in the atmosphere in gaseous form. Water vapor is an important part of the natural greenhouse effect. While humans are not significantly increasing its concentration through direct emissions, it contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect because the warming influence of greenhouse gases leads to a positive water vapor feedback. In addition to its role as a natural greenhouse gas, water vapor also affects the temperature of the planet because clouds form when excess water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form ice and water droplets and precipitation. See greenhouse gas.\n\n4. The most abundant greenhouse gas; it is the water present in the atmosphere in gaseous form. Water vapor is an important part of the natural greenhouse effect. While humans are not significantly increasing its concentration, it contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect because the warming influence of greenhouse gases leads to a positive water vapor feedback. In addition to its role as a natural greenhouse gas, water vapor plays an important role in regulating the temperature of the planet because clouds form when excess water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form ice and water droplets and precipitation.\n\n5. Water in its gaseous state, and one of the most important constituents of the atmosphere. Not only does water vapor contribute to cloud formation and precipitation, but it also regulates the atmospheric temperature by being a vital greenhouse gas and transporter of energy (latent heat). The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere varies by location and time due to processes of evaporation and condensation, but over half of its amount can be found close to the surface, below two kilometers.\n\n6. The most abundant greenhouse gas, it is the water present in the atmosphere in gaseous form. Water vapor is an important part of the natural greenhouse effect. While humans are not significantly increasing its concentration through direct emissions, it contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect because the warming influence of greenhouse gases leads to a positive water vapor feedback. In addition to its role as a natural greenhouse gas, water vapor also affects the temperature of the planet because clouds form when excess water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form ice and water droplets and precipitation.",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary",
    "Student's Guide to Global Climate Change",
    "Glossary of Climate Change Terms",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions",
    "My NASA Data Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/water-vapor/"
}