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Relative humidity is a ratio between the partial pressure of water vapor and the saturation pressure of water vapor at the current temperature and pressure. If the temperature and pressure change, then the relative humidity will change also.
You are correct that higher temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more water. That means that the saturation pressure of water vapor has increased while the current vapor pressure has remained the same, causing the relative humidity to drop.
We think of humidity as how hot and sticky it is outside. The closer the water vapor pressure is to its saturation point, the more hot and sticky we feel. We associate humidity with heat since that is when we are uncomfortable, but rain is caused by the relative humidity rising to 100% because the humid air cooled to the point that the saturation pressure dipped below the current vapor pressure (or other pressure changes, or a combination of both). You can learn more at the link below.
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What is the effect on relative humidity when the temperature of a body of air increases?
When the temperature of a body of air increases, its relative humidity decreases. Warmer air can hold more moisture, so as the temperature rises, the air can distribute the moisture more evenly and the relative humidity decreases.
What happens to relative humidity when temperature rises?
When temperature rises, the capacity of air to hold water vapor increases. Consequently, the relative humidity decreases because the amount of moisture present in the air remains the same, but it is spread out over a larger volume.
What type of air has a realative humidity of 100 percent?
That would be "dewpoint"...When the air temperature falls to the dewpoint (or dewpoint rises to the air temperature), then you have 100% relative humidity.
When warmer air rises above the frontal surface expands and cools as it ascends does it relative humidity increase or decrease?
When warmer air rises above the frontal surface, it expands and cools as it ascends. As the air cools, its relative humidity increases because cooler air has a lower capacity to hold moisture, leading to saturation and potentially precipitation.
Relationship between temperature and relative humidity?
As temperature increases, the air has the potential to hold more water vapor, leading to an increase in relative humidity. Conversely, as temperature decreases, the air is able to hold less water vapor, causing relative humidity to rise. This relationship is why warm air tends to feel more humid than cold air at the same relative humidity level.
