From: spam@merlyn.demon.co.uk   
      
   JRS:  In article , seen in   
   news:sci.space.science, Henry Spencer  posted at   
   Sun, 21 Sep 2003 01:28:48 :-   
   >In article ,   
   >Gordon D. Pusch  wrote:   
   >>> ...I think it would be quite a trick to get measurements of   
   >>> things like this in the time available.   
   >>   
   >>Moreover, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to believe reduced gravity should   
   >>have any effect on the evaporation rate of water, any more than it would   
   >>affect the boiling point or freezing point of water.   
   >   
   >It wouldn't affect the fundamental evaporation rate, given the scale at   
   >which that operates, but it conceivably might affect convection phenomena,   
   >and they determine what relative humidity a given evaporation rate will   
   >produce in the near-surface air... which in turn affects the evaporation   
   >rate.   
      
   Indeed.  Wet air is lighter than dry air, so increased gravity will   
   remove it faster. That reduces the date at which water that has just   
   evaporated out will fall back in.   
      
   Moreover, evaporation cools.  Above 4 C, gravity helps evaporation by   
   removing cool water from the top; below 4 C it hinders.   
      
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