What is latent heat? Explain why latent heat is important for the ...

[Ebrown]

What is latent heat? Explain why latent heat is important for the redistribution of energy.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Use map sketches to explain the processes that drive the Southeast Asian monsoon.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Dinolord]

Answer to Question 1

The latent heat of vaporization is the energy needed to convert liquid water to water vapor. Quantitatively, the latent heat of vaporization is 2260 kJ/kg at 100C. Thus, it takes 2260 kJ of energy to convert 1 kilogram of water at 100C to water vapor. When the process is reversed and the water changes from a gas back to a liquid, this same amount of energy is released to the environment.

Answer to Question 2

The monsoon flow over Southeast Asia. (a) Summer heating of the Tibetan Plateau produces intense convection and low surface pressures, drawing in moist air from the Indian Ocean to the south. (b) The reverse occurs in winter, when low temperatures and extensive snow cover on the plateau produce high surface pressures, subsidence, and outflowing air.