UniMet

Latent Heats and Moisture in the atmosphere

 

Latent heat is the amount of heat that is absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a change of state, at constant temperature and presure. Changing from one phase to another means a large amount of latent heat must be supplied or is released.

 

Simply: The heat energy required to change a substance, such as water, from one state to another, is called Latent Heat. 

 

Solid --> Liquid: FUSION (Melting and Freezing): Latent heat of fusion Lf = 3.34*10^5 J kg^-1

Liquid --> Gas: VAPORISATION (Vapourising and Evaporation): Latent heat of vaporisation Lv = 2.25*10^6 J kg^-1

Gas --> Solid: SUBLIMATION: Ls = 2.86*10^6 J kg^-1