Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-of-atmospheres-and-oceans-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2022/1/a/solution

For the variable-latent-heat saturation curve of a pure saturated water atmosphere, the total pressure equals the saturation pressure. The exact Clausius-Clapeyron relation along the phase coexistence curve is
where are the specific volumes of the vapor and condensed thermodynamic phase. Neglecting and using the ideal gas law, , gives
The triple point provides the integration constant. Below it, the prescribed latent heat is constant, so
Above it, write . Integrating gives
These are the requested implicit temperature profiles . Both branches meet at , and each is monotone before the limiting liquid-gas critical point. The lower branch describes equilibrium with ice, rather than a stable liquid surface. A stable liquid ocean surface belongs to the upper branch; the colder upper atmosphere may use the lower branch. Hydrostatic balance is needed to convert this relation into a height profile, but not to obtain .

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