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| We did an activity where we layered warm, red-colored water on top and cold, blue-colored water to make a thermocline. After a while our two liquids began to mix due to kinetic energy of the warmer molecules. When a question on the lab asked how long it would take for the water to completely mix, I wondered if the moving surface currents in the ocean sped up the cooling evaporation process and cause the thermoclines in the ocean to mix faster as well. Does moving water evaporate faster than still water? |
| Question Date: 2002-02-27 |
| Answer 1: Yes, moving water can evaporate faster than stillwater. When water moves, the molecules rub againsteach other and this will make the water warmerover time. The higher temperature will make thewater evaporate more quickly. The difference,though, is small, especially in the ocean whereother parts of the environment play a biggerrole. The physical process that heats the wateralso slows it down, which means something has tokeep the water moving. You can see this if youstir the water in a sink or bathtub. If you getthe water moving and then leave it alone,eventually it will stop moving. In the case of theocean, the currents are being "stirred" constantlyby the winds. |
| Answer 2: I don't think that moving water evaporates (much)faster than still water but air blowing on waterwill make it evaporate faster. This is how a windchill works. What you noticed is that heat willconduct pretty rapidly through water via watermolecules moving around (also known asdiffusion). Click Here to return to the search form. |
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