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Old 03-July-2009, 08:15 PM
grant hutchison grant hutchison is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lomiller1 View Post
Meh, you’re splitting hairs. The temperature of the water vapor is directly determined by the temperature of the air around it. If it were any different it would soon equalize due to the constant exchange of energy in both directions. The temperature of the air therefore *does* determine how much water vapor is present, and that’s all that is essential to understanding the explanation.
The error is really in that word "hold". Air doesn't have a capacity to "hold" water. The water simply finds its own equilibrium according to temperature. Indeed, hot water will produce hot vapour which will increase the temperature of the air above it.

Grant Hutchison
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