Under what physical conditions of the atmosphere would evaporation be the greatest?

Temperature ______
Humidity ______
wind _______

temperature high

It's common sense that evaporation of water occurs at high temperature more readily than at low temperature.

humidity low
The less water vapor already in the air, the easier it is to introduce water vapor into the air.

wind high
Wind helps remove water that has already evaporated, allowing more water to evaporate in its place.

To determine the physical conditions of the atmosphere that would result in the greatest evaporation, we need to consider three factors: temperature, humidity, and wind.

1. Temperature: Evaporation occurs when molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough energy to break their bonds and transition into a gas state. Higher temperatures provide more energy to the liquid particles, increasing the rate of evaporation. So, a higher temperature would generally lead to greater evaporation.

2. Humidity: Humidity refers to the amount of moisture present in the air. A lower humidity level means that the air has a greater capacity to hold moisture. In such conditions, the air has room to absorb more water, resulting in faster evaporation from the liquid surface.

3. Wind: Wind affects evaporation by moving the air around. When the air is in motion, it carries away the water vapor that has evaporated from the liquid's surface. This prevents the air around the liquid from becoming saturated, allowing for more evaporation to occur. Therefore, a moderate to strong wind can enhance evaporation rates.

Based on these factors, the conditions that would result in the greatest evaporation are:
- High temperature
- Low humidity
- Moderate to strong wind

It is important to note that these factors work together, and their effects can vary depending on the specific circumstances and location.