Phase transitions of atmospheric water play a ubiquitous role in the Earth's climate system, but their direct impact on atmospheric dynamics has escaped wide attention. Here we examine and advance a theory as to how condensation influences atmospheric pressure through the mass removal of water from the gas phase with a simultaneous account of the latent heat release. Building from the fundamental physical principles we show that condensation is associated with a decline in air pressure in the lower atmosphere. This decline occurs up to a certain height, which ranges from 3 to 4 km for surface temperatures from 10 to 30 deg C. We then estimate the horizontal pressure differences associated with water vapor condensation and find that these are comparable in magnitude with the pressure differences driving observed circulation patterns. The water vapor delivered to the atmosphere via evaporation represents a store of potential energy available to accelerate air and thus drive winds. Our estimates suggest that the global mean power at which this potential energy is released by condensation is around one per cent of the global solar power -- this is similar to the known stationary dissipative power of general atmospheric circulation. We conclude that condensation and evaporation merit attention as major, if previously overlooked, factors in driving atmospheric dynamics.
Theoretical Physics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute（彼得堡核物理研究所）；Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich（慕尼黑工业大学高等研究院）；Biotic Pump Greening Group Institute（生物泵绿化集团研究所）
Spectral condensation in a finite nonequilibrium atmospheric transition
Kunming University of Science and Technology（昆明理工大学）；Yunnan Key Laboratory of Complex Systems and Brain-Inspired Intelligence（云南省复杂系统与脑启发智能重点实验室）；Technical University of Munich（慕尼黑工业大学）；Beijing Normal University（北京师范大学）；Zhejiang University（浙江大学）
Importance of the advection scheme for the simulation of water isotopes over Antarctica by atmospheric general circulation models: A case study for present-day and Last Glacial Maximum with LMDZ-iso
Analysis of the application of the optical method to the measurements of the water vapor content in the atmosphere - Part 1: Basic concepts of the measurement technique
